France's President Nicolas Sarkozy addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg Oct. 21, 2008. Sarkozy told the European parliament Tuesday that the world does not need a crisis between Europe and Russia.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BRUSSELS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the European parliament Tuesday that the world does not need a crisis between Europe and Russia.

    "Given the state of the world today, I don't believe the world needs a crisis between Europe and Russia," Sarkozy told a plenary session of the parliament in Strasbourg, France.

    "We can defend our differences, human rights, but it would be irresponsible to create the conditions for a conflict for which we have no need," he said.

    "Europe brought about peace...and Europe has brought about dialogue," he added.

    Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, brokered a ceasefire between Georgia and Russia in August after a brief military conflict between the two countries.

    "It strikes me that it's been a long time since Europe has played this kind of role," he said.

    The EU suspended negotiations with Russia because of the war with Georgia, citing "disproportionate action" by the Russians.

    After Russia withdrew its troops from buffer zones around Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, France, together with Germany, Italy and some other EU members, pushed for a resumption of the talks on a new agreement of cooperation and partnership with Moscow.

    However, Poland, Britain and the Baltic nations, which proposed an " audit" of EU-Russia relations, opposed any hasty move.

Barroso: Resuming talks with Russia not gift for Russia

    BRUSSELS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said here on Tuesday that resuming negotiations with Russia on a new partnership deal was not a gift for Russia but in the interest of Europe.

    It was not "a gift for Russia" from the EU to resume negotiations between the European Union and Russia, Barroso told a joint press conference with visiting Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.