ROME (AFP)--Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini Monday warned against the formation of an "anti-Russian" coalition within the European Union over the conflict in South Ossetia.
"It would be negative for Europe if a sort of coalition against Russia develops, which could happen" if the E.U. calls an emergency European Council summit on the Ossetia conflict, Frattini said in an interview published by the daily La Stampa.
"We are close to (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin on that," Frattini added.
E.U. foreign ministers will hold a crisis meeting in Brussels Wednesday to discuss the bloc's response to the conflict in Georgia.
Poland has additionally requested an emergency summit of the E.U. Council gathering heads of government and state and the president of the European Commission.
Poland, the biggest of the former Soviet bloc nations in the European Union, has been a strong supporter of Georgia's ambitions to join the E.U. and NATO, and Tbilisi and Warsaw maintain close relations.
On Saturday, the presidents of Poland and the three Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - issued a strongly worded joint statement calling on the E.U. and NATO to oppose Russia's "imperialist policy."
But Frattini warned: "Asking for (the emergency summit) means moving towards a condemnation of Russia, a position that would be negative for all of Europe."
He added: "It's important that the Europe of 27 (does) not divide itself into factions and small groups. It should be a bridge between the United States and Russia if it wants to have a political role with any weight."
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has friendly relations with Putin, wants to play a mediating role between the E.U. and Moscow.
Frattini said Moscow should "understand" that peacekeeping operations "currently entrusted exclusively to its military forces should be the subject of discussions with the international community."
He was cautious when asked whether Italy would take part in such a force in the region.
"If (French Foreign Minister Bernard) Kouchner, after his meetings in Tbilisi and Moscow, makes a proposal (in this direction) on Wednesday at the meeting of foreign ministers, and if it is accepted, we will consider it," he said.
"There are a lot of 'ifs,' and we would have to redeploy our forces, which are not unlimited," Frattini added.
Italian contingents are taking part in several peacekeeping missions around the world, notably in Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Frattini, who spoke by telephone with Kouchner at the weekend, said Rome and Paris had "very clear" positions