Schroeder blames ‘gambler’ Saakashvili for conflict

Russia Today
Sunday, Aug 17, 2008

The former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has blamed Georgia for starting the conflict in South Ossetia and described its President as a “gambler”. In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, he criticised President Mikhail Saakashvili and warned against speeding up the country’s accession to NATO.

“Imagine that we had been forced into military action on the side of Georgia as a NATO member, on the side of an obvious gambler, as one must describe Saakashvili,” he said.

“I don’t believe Russia is pursuing a policy of annexation and I also don’t believe that there will be a return to the previous status quo for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. That is out of the question.”

(Article continues below)

Schroeder told the influential magazine that the events shouldn’t undermine Germany’s strategic partnership with Russia and claimed Western governments had made “serious errors” in their dealings with Moscow.

“I think little of demonizing Russia, and I believe Moscow will soon see the need for greater integration into the international community,” he said.

The Former Chancellor has close links with Russia and is Chairman of the German-Russian consortium building a gas pipeline under the Baltic.

• 
• Social bookmarks
• 
• Email this article
• 
• Print this page

Comment Terms Of Use

8 Responses to “Schroeder blames ‘gambler’ Saakashvili for conflict”

1. Mike Says:
   August 17th, 2008 at 6:58 am

   Google European Council on Foreign Relations.
   Google George Soros and Georgia

   You will discover what is going on

   Egots

2. Howard Says:
   August 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am

   A gambler can only play as long as he has the HOUSE to give him credit. Any guesses as to who the HOUSE is?

3. Mike Says:
   August 17th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

   Saakashvili talks of democracy, yet if a province such as South Ossetia should desire to succeed and “choose” it’s own destiny, he has an iron fist like all the others.

4. Rami Says:
   August 17th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

   I always liked Schroeder when he was chancellor because of his liberal stance and because of his open mindness. But lets not forget for a minute that since he left office he has been working for the Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom. It seems like politicians selling out to big oil is not endemic to just the U.S. If only more people would get off their asses and start pushing for free-energy technology that has actually been available in one form or another since Tesla!!

5. White Rabbit Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 8:26 am

   It is true that Schroeder is now working for a pipeline-company, but there is one thing that nearly everybody, especially here im Germany, seems to forget: Only half of this pipeline-company is owned by Gazprom, the other half belongs to BASF and some other German companies. So I personally don’t understand, why Gerd should not be persuing German interests in the first place.

6. AL PEIA Says:
   August 21st, 2008 at 2:55 am

   A voice of rationality coming from Germany these days, who would have thunk it. merkel is a dope and should be considered a gross embarrassment to Germany!
   http://www.albertpeia.com/curr.....r10108.htm
   http://www.albertpeia.com
   http://www.albertpeia.com/wall.....y10108.htm
   http://www.albertpeia.com/alresume65393.htm

7. Giant Shadows Says:
   August 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 am

   Do you know where you are?
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V5iCUBEUx4
   God Bless America
   GS

8. Jim Says:
   August 24th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

   http://www.onemorepromethean.com