BRUSSELS: Russia's envoy to the European Union said on Thursday he did not expect the bloc would impose sanctions on Moscow because of its military action in Georgia.

EU leaders hold a summit on Monday to discuss the Georgia crisis. Some member states, including some ex-Soviet satellites from central Europe, are known to favour sanctions, but Western heavyweights such as France and Italy oppose them.

"I highly doubt it might ever happen. It (imposing sanctions) would be more to the detriment of the EU than to Russia," Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's ambassador to the EU, told a news conference.

"I hope reason and common sense will prevail. I can expect ... EU leaders will be able to rise above emotions of the day," he said. He said the EU's 27 members were deeply divided over how to handle Russia.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner earlier said that some EU countries were calling for sanctions against Russia ahead of their emergency summit on Monday, but that France -- which currently holds the EU's presidency -- was not in favour.

Chizhov said that despite the EU's condemnation of the Russia's military action he did not expect the bloc to put off the next round of negotiations with Moscow over a new strategic partnership pact, scheduled for September 16.

The crisis erupted this month when Georgian forces tried to retake the separatist province of South Ossetia and Russia launched an overwhelming counter-attack.

Russian forces swept the Georgian army out of the rebel region and are still occupying some areas of Georgia proper. It has since defied the West by recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another rebel region.

Chizhov dismissed statements of many countries that Russia's operation was disproportionate, saying the criticism came from NATO countries that agreed to bomb Serbia in 1999 when it was trying to reinstate its rule in the separatist Kosovo province.

"It is strange to hear about the disproportionate use of force from those who only nine years ago bombed a European capital," he said.

He said the EU was welcome to send monitors or peacekeepers to Georgia, but if the mission was to be deployed in the buffer zone next to South Ossetia, where Russian troops are now stationed, South Ossetia authorities would have to agree.

He compared Russia's move to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to the decision of many EU countries and the United States to recognise the secession of Kosovo from Serbia this year.
Source : Reuters