EU should reassess its relations with Russia: Britain

(BRUSSELS) - Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Wednesday that the European Union should reassess its relations with Russia after its "aggressive" actions in Georgia.

"I think is significant that the European Union should be able to address its relations with Russia at its Gymnich (EU foreign ministers' meeting) in September and through decisions about whether or not and how to proceed with the partnership and cooperation agreement," he said.

The European Union and Russia held their first talks last month on a sweeping new "strategic partnership" aimed at redefining their ties.

The partnership is meant to replace an existing one from 1997, taking into account new political, economic and energy realities between a bigger EU and a more powerful, assertive Russia.

Miliband slammed Russia's response to an offensive by the Georgian army last week to regain control of South Ossetia, the Moscow-backed region which broke away from Tbilisi in the early 1990s.

"The aggressive Russian force beyond South Ossetian borders has been something that really shocked many people," he said.

"All of the European foreign ministers I've spoken to will have been shocked by the scenes that they've seen from Georgia over the last few days.

"The sight of Russian tanks in Gori, Russian tanks in Senaki, Russian blockade of Poti, the Georgian port are a chilling reminder of times that I think we had hoped had gone by."

Several ministers from eastern Europe echoed the criticism.

"There was clearly disproportionate force used by the Russians," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.

However a number of ministers said the focus on Russia's role should be put on hold until more pressing issues such as immediate humanitarian aid for civilians caught in the conflict are resolved.

"I'm sure we will have a very tough discussion about EU-Russia relations in the future," said Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, whose country holds the presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"The blame game and the tough talk will start at a later stage."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it would be unproductive to point the finger at Russia now.

"I do not think we should get lost today in long discussions about responsibility or who caused the escalation of the last few days," he said.

Berlin heads a loose alliance known as the UN Group of Friends of the Secretary General which has been trying to cool tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi over amother breakaway Georgian republic, Abkhazia.