9 Aug 08AFP
Sweden has evoked the memory of Adolf Hitler in condemning Russia'sattacks on Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, sayingthe protection of Russians there did not justify the assault."No state has the right to intervene militarily in the territory ofanother state simply because there are individuals there with a passportissued by that state or who are nationals of the state," said SwedishForeign Minister Carl Bildt in a statement.
"Attempts to apply such a doctrine have plunged Europe into war in thepast... And we have reason to remember how Hitler used this verydoctrine little more than half a century ago to undermine and attacksubstantial parts of central Europe," Bildt said.Russian warplanes on Saturday bombed targets in Georgia as thatcountry's president declared "a state of war", while Russian PresidentDmitry Medvedev said his country would "force the Georgian side into peace.
"Russia backs the separatist government in South Ossetia and sent intanks and troops on Friday in response to pro-Western Georgia's militarycampaign to take back the province which broke away in the early 1990s.Sweden has called for an immediate end to bombing raids and thewithdrawal of Russian troops that have entered Georgia to allow for apeaceful solution to the conflict.
Earlier on Saturday, Sweden joined calls for an emergency European Unionsummit on the escalating conflict in Georgia. Bildt said EU foreignministers could gather on Monday in Paris."There must be a very strong response on the part of the EuropeanUnion," said Bildt, quoted by Sweden's TT news agency.Sweden's top diplomat was the international community's highrepresentative in Bosnia-Hercegovina in 1996-1997 following the Balkan wars.
Bildt also evoked the memory of the late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic in addressing Russia's agression against Georgia."We did not accept military intervention by Milosevic's Sserbia in otherYugoslav states on the grounds of protecting Serbian passport holders,"he said.
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