Libertas.org

Reacting to news that the Kremlin's heavy armour, infantry and air forces had invaded the independent and democratic European country of Georgia, Libertas chairman Declan Ganley this afternoon called on EU leaders to unite and show strong an unequivocal support for Georgia's democratically-elected government.
 
Tensions in the region have been rising since April's NATO summit meeting which barred Ukraine and Georgia from the membership process following objections to their  memberships by the governments of France and Germany who had promised to 're-examine' the possibility of eventual membership in December.
 
Ganley, who spent his early business career working in the countries of the former Soviet Bloc said: "The rejection by certain of their fellow Europeans, of Georgian membership of NATO and the deliberate slow rolling of their intention to join the the European Union, sent a message to a boldly assertive Kremlin, that Georgia is 'in play'. There are a few European leaders who might consider tonight how they are going to retrieve a situation where by their lack of leadership and vision, they have effectively thrown Georgia to the wolves."
 

Ganley went on to say,
 
"The appropriate response for the European Union is to call for the Kremlin to immediately withdraw its forces from Georgia – an independent European country that will hopefully one day join the Union".
 
"Furthermore, and very importantly, the EU should move to put Ukraine on an immediate fast track to membership of the Union as a strong signal that democratic and free countries in Europe will be welcomed into the European family."
 
"Europe's leaders must stop dragging their feet and making excuses as to why European countries like Ukraine and Georgia cannot be admitted to the EU. If Europe cannot at a minimum guarantee freedom and democracy for people living in Europe then what's it for?".
 
"It is noteworthy that when the Georgian President Saakashvili this afternoon appealed to the world for help, he was flanked on one side by the Georgian flag and on the other by the flag of the European Union. Who are the elite in Brussels to tell the Europeans of Georgia that they are somehow not European?"
 
"These are the basics of European democracy. Europe must not allow another Balkan or Sudeten-like debacle to take place as the EU's political leaders wring their hands at their summer resorts while waiting for Washington to ultimately decide what to do. A strong Russia must and will be a friend and ally of the European Union but for this to work, leaders need to draw the line clearly on what is and is not acceptable in a democratic Europe."
 
"This situation is the price of not placing democracy, accountability, vision and courage at the heart of the European project" said Ganley.