Russia wants arms embargo on Georgia
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - September 1, 2008: Russia would like to see the imposition of an embargo on arms supplies to Georgia until a change of leadership takes place in the Caucasus state, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.
Lavrov's remarks came as European Union leaders were due to gather later on Monday for an emergency summit to focus on the Georgia crisis and review relations with Moscow.
"To guarantee the region is protected against new outbreaks of violence, Russia will continue to take measures to make sure that the [Mikheil Saakashvili] regime is unable to commit evil deeds ever again," Lavrov said.
"It would be appropriate to impose an embargo on arms supplies on that regime until different leaders have turned Georgia into a normal country," he said.
Moscow said hundreds of civilians and peacekeepers were killed in the Georgia's attack on South Ossetia on August 8, and thousands were forced to flee the devastated region. Russia concluded its operation to "force Georgia to peace" on August 12.
Lavrov said Moscow hopes the EU will make the right choice at its summit.
"The European Union summit today will clarify a lot. We hope the choice will be made based on Europe's fundamental interests," Lavrov said.
A number of EU states, including Britain and Poland, have called for sanctions against Moscow and the postponement of talks on a new partnership pact with Russia over what they called its disproportionate response to the Georgian attack.
Russia also later recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another Georgian separatist region where many hold Russian passports, as independent states. The move was condemned internationally as "irresponsible."
But Lavrov made it clear that Russia would not yield to pressure. "Russia has returned to the world scene as a responsible state which is capable of defending its citizens," he said.
Lavrov also said Russia would maintain dialogue with the United States as long as there is even the slightest chance of reaching an understanding of each other's positions.
Ties between Moscow and Washington, already tense over U.S. plans for a missile shield in Europe and a host of other issues, strained further over the Georgia crisis.
"We will talk to Washington as long as there is even the slightest chance of understanding each other and coming to terms," Lavrov said.
However the minister laid part of the blame for the recent fighting on the U.S., whose military and other support for President Saakashvili, he said, only encouraged the "irresponsible and unpredictable regime's" reckless moves.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier accused the White House of provoking the conflict in Georgia in order to give an advantage to "one of" the U.S. presidential candidates. Washington has denied the allegation.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Russia wants arms embargo on Georgia
Russia wants arms embargo on Georgia
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - September 1, 2008: Russia would like to see the imposition of an embargo on arms supplies to Georgia until a change of leadership takes place in the Caucasus state, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.
Lavrov's remarks came as European Union leaders were due to gather later on Monday for an emergency summit to focus on the Georgia crisis and review relations with Moscow.
"To guarantee the region is protected against new outbreaks of violence, Russia will continue to take measures to make sure that the [Mikheil Saakashvili] regime is unable to commit evil deeds ever again," Lavrov said.
"It would be appropriate to impose an embargo on arms supplies on that regime until different leaders have turned Georgia into a normal country," he said.
Moscow said hundreds of civilians and peacekeepers were killed in the Georgia's attack on South Ossetia on August 8, and thousands were forced to flee the devastated region. Russia concluded its operation to "force Georgia to peace" on August 12.
Lavrov said Moscow hopes the EU will make the right choice at its summit.
"The European Union summit today will clarify a lot. We hope the choice will be made based on Europe's fundamental interests," Lavrov said.
A number of EU states, including Britain and Poland, have called for sanctions against Moscow and the postponement of talks on a new partnership pact with Russia over what they called its disproportionate response to the Georgian attack.
Russia also later recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another Georgian separatist region where many hold Russian passports, as independent states. The move was condemned internationally as "irresponsible."
But Lavrov made it clear that Russia would not yield to pressure. "Russia has returned to the world scene as a responsible state which is capable of defending its citizens," he said.
Lavrov also said Russia would maintain dialogue with the United States as long as there is even the slightest chance of reaching an understanding of each other's positions.
Ties between Moscow and Washington, already tense over U.S. plans for a missile shield in Europe and a host of other issues, strained further over the Georgia crisis.
"We will talk to Washington as long as there is even the slightest chance of understanding each other and coming to terms," Lavrov said.
However the minister laid part of the blame for the recent fighting on the U.S., whose military and other support for President Saakashvili, he said, only encouraged the "irresponsible and unpredictable regime's" reckless moves.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier accused the White House of provoking the conflict in Georgia in order to give an advantage to "one of" the U.S. presidential candidates. Washington has denied the allegation.
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