OPINION:Russia and the European Union are too interdependent not to formulate a way of living with each other - rhetoric and threats are not the path forward, writes Denis Corboy
THE WAR in the Caucasus has been a tragedy with global and long-term consequences. Cataloguing the errors of judgment made by western policymakers, their failure to manage relations with Russia and who did what to start the South Ossetian war does not help to resolve the present crisis.
The reality is that Georgia has been dismembered and, for the first time since the end of the cold war, Russia has used military force to invade an unco-operative neighbour and occupy its territory.
In recent days, we have seen greatly heightened rhetoric and veiled threats from both sides which has not been helpful. It was foolish and unrealistic to talk of isolating Russia. The international community can isolate a North Korea, a Zimbabwe or some small rogue state.
The political and economic interdependence between the EU and Russia is so great that there is no alternative to constructive engagement and better diplomacy. Russia is already strongly integrated and a significant player in the world of global finance. Threats of sanctions which could not realistically be implemented would have been counterproductive.
The EU has wisely not gone down this road.
Its message, which is stronger than beginning an exchange of sanctions, is to offer Georgia a programme of humanitarian and financial assistance.
The engagement will also open the door to an EU free trade area and the new member states of eastern Europe hope it will lead to eventual EU membership for Georgia.
Russia has been told that it can choose between being part of the international community or having pariah status.
The condemnation of Russia's invasion and continued occupation of Georgia has been unanimous and the EU is united in agreeing practical steps to deal with the crisis.
The further resolution to this crisis is unlikely to be helped by creating a drama around the December ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). While the commitment to Georgia made at the Nato Bucharest summit last April stands, it sends a much more realistic signal that the international institutions are now focused on the economic reconstruction and restoration of the Georgian economy.
In addition to the EU package, US vice-president Dick Cheney, expected in Tbilisi this week, has indicated he will announce a major reconstruction and financial programme during his visit.
At this point in time, there is little indication as to how Georgia can resolve the problems caused by having part of its territory occupied by Russia. The decision to send EU monitors to the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia increases the pressure on Russia to withdraw from the port of Poti and for the so-called "buffer zone" to be put under international supervision.
Furthermore, the suspension of negotiations for a new EU partnership and co-operation agreement with Russia until it has complied with the six-point ceasefire agreement sends a clear message and firmly puts the ball into Moscow's court.
The EU and US economic packages, together with anticipated World Bank and International Monetary Fund interventions, should help reassure investors in Georgia that the country's remarkable economic performance in recent years can be sustained.
On growing EU energy concerns, a lesson from this crisis has been the vital need to move from overdependence on oil and gas and to diversify our energy sources.
This serves also to underline the importance of protecting the oil and gas corridors through the Caucasus, including the realisation of the Nabucco pipeline project to western Europe.
It is not business as usual but there is a strong case and potential to put the soft power of the EU to work.
• Denis Corboy is a former EU ambassador to Georgia and director of the Caucasus Policy Institute at King's College, London