To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) the Government and (b) the presidency of the Council of Ministers of the EU was informed by (i) the US administration and (ii) the Georgian government of Georgia's plans to take military action in South Ossetia before the action took place. (223180)

[holding answer 10 September 2008]: Neither the Government nor, do we believe, the EU presidency were given advance warning of Georgian plans to take military actions in South Ossetia.

Indeed, prior to the outbreak of hostilities on 7 August—and while tensions were rising—UK and other EU partners and allies actively sought to encourage all parties to exercise restraint, avoid actions likely to increase tensions and work towards a sustainable resolution of the conflict.