Russia claims postponement of talks a diplomatic victory

RUSSIA: MOSCOW CLAIMED a diplomatic victory over its toughest critics in the European Union yesterday, after the bloc postponed talks on a partnership deal but declined to slap sanctions on Moscow over its military intervention in Georgia.

"Thank God, common sense prevailed. We saw no extreme conclusions and proposals, and this is very good," said prime minister Vladimir Putin of an EU summit at which he had warned member states not to seek harsh measures against Moscow.

"The majority of EU states showed a responsible approach and confirmed their course towards partnership with Russia, realising all too well the importance of mutually beneficial co-operation," said Russia's foreign ministry.

President Dmitry Medvedev complained the EU had shown "no understanding of what motivated Russia to make decisions on repelling the Georgian aggression and recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states".

But he was pleased that "despite certain divisions among EU states on the issue, a reasonable, realistic point of view prevailed, because some states were calling for some mythical sanctions".

Much of the Russian media all but mocked Britain, Poland and the Baltic states for what was portrayed as their failure to secure backing for a tougher EU line against Moscow.

The Kremlin had been confident it would escape economic sanctions from a bloc that receives about one-third of its oil and gas from Russia. Officials said they also hoped for improved ties with Washington, which Mr Putin has accused of provoking the Georgian crisis and having military advisers in the conflict zone.

"We hope that a positive agenda in relations with the United States will prevail and that the fiasco over the Georgian project will not affect a responsible approach by our American partners to problems that are of real interest to the international community," said senior Kremlin aide Sergei Prikhodko.

US vice-president Dick Cheney was due to fly to the Caucasus last night for a trip encompassing Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine. His national security adviser John Hannah said he would deliver "a clear and simple message that the United States has a deep and abiding interest in the wellbeing and security of this part of the world". Mr Cheney will also discuss plans to develop an energy corridor from Azerbaijan through Georgia to the West, which would reduce EU and US dependence on Russian oil and gas. Mr Putin signed a deal in Uzbekistan yesterday to build a new pipeline taking more Central Asian gas to Russia and away from the West's allies in the region.

Amid warnings Moscow's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could destabilise Russia's volatile Caucasian republics, police in the Ingushetia region broke up protests yesterday over the death of a prominent journalist.

Police said Magomed Yevloyev, a leading critic of Ingushetia's Kremlin-backed leader Murat Zyazikov, was accidentally shot in the head on Sunday when he tried to grab an officer's gun after being arrested. The demonstrators claimed he was murdered.