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		MEP challenges EU plan for Georgia Monday, 15th September 2008 The Foreign Secretary has announced that the UK will contribute to a so-called EU monitoring force which will deploy to Georgia on October 1. Under an agreement signed in Moscow and Tbilisi, Russian troops are expected to withdraw from the areas of Georgia that they occupy outside of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by October 10. Roger Helmer the Conservative MEP for the East Midlands commented: "Despite the announcements, it is totally unclear what nature this 'monitoring' force will assume. Some reports suggest the UK is planning to contribute police and non-uniformed military personnel. It seems we are planning to send British policemen to Georgia at a time when the public are worried about too few police on our streets at home. "This particular EU mission is being carried out under the EU security and defence policy heading, and is being used very shamelessly to promote the need for a common defence policy. "Russian troops should withdraw from all Georgian territory, including the disputed areas, and be replaced by an OSCE or UN force. An international investigation should be launched into the atrocities that are alleged to have taken place during the conflict. Meanwhile, the EU should focus its efforts on delivering the 500 million Euros of humanitarian aid which it has pledged to Georgia over the next three years, instead of distracting itself with promoting its own defence agenda."