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Russia announces extra troops for Georgia regions: agencies
MOSCOW
Petroleumworld.com, April 30, 2008Russia's defence ministry on Tuesday announced an increase in peacekeeping forces to two rebel Georgian regions in response to what it called aggressive moves by pro-Western Georgia.
"The development of events has created the need for an increase in the peacekeeping contingent in the conflict zones" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the ministry was quoted as saying by state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
Russia maintains a peacekeeping force in both areas under agreements with Georgia in the 1990s following wars in which separatists broke from Georgian control and established close ties with Moscow, which has encouraged residents there to take Russian citizenship.
The defence ministry, which accused Georgia of massing troops near the rebel areas, did not say how many extra soldiers were being sent, while detailing that 15 new observation posts would be set up on the front line in Abkhazia.
About 2,000 Russians serve there and about another 1,000 in South Ossetia.
"Any attempt by the Georgian side to resolve the conflicts with force against Russian peacekeepers and also against Russian citizens... will be met with an adequate and tough answer," state news agencies quoted the ministry as saying.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued its own statement, saying: "The presence of Russian peacekeepers remains the decisive factor in preventing an escalation of tension."
Georgia, however, which accuses Moscow of attempting to annex the territories, swiftly rejected the Russian military's allegations and said the announced troop increase was unacceptable.
"This is not acceptable to us... They cannot increase the number any further," Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told AFP.
"It is the Russians who are taking provocative actions, not Georgia," he said. "Deploying additional troops is certainly a very provocative move.
"There has been no increase in forces from the Georgian side, nothing at all. The Russian statement is simply not true," he added.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana criticised Russia's move at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"It is not wise to increase the number of Russian peacekeepers in Georgia right now," said Solana.
Lavrov, when asked about the number of extra soldiers involved, did not respond in detail, saying simply that it "remains in the limits foreseen".
Asked if Russia wants war with Georgia, he assured: "Not at all." He added that the measures being taken by Moscow were "purely aimed at preventing the frozen conflicts from entering an active phase".
In a clear reference to Moscow, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said in a televised address on Tuesday evening that an "outrageous and irresponsible force is trying to involve us in confrontation, which would be devastating for us but beneficial for it."
Saakashvili told residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia that Georgia "is offering you peace and extending a hand of friendship".
Abkhazia and South Ossetia's rebel leaders immediately rejected Saakashvili's call for unity, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
"The co-existence of Abkhazia and Georgia in a unified state is impossible," Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh said.
"The people of South Ossetia have made a choice in favour of an independent state and we their leaders will not deviate from this path," said South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity.
Moscow has close ties with the separatists, providing them with financial help and frequently inviting the rebel leaders to Moscow.
Analysts see the rise of tensions as helping Moscow to impede its neighbour's bid for membership in the NATO military alliance.
Moscow has also warned that Western recognition of independence for Serbian province Kosovo threatens a chain reaction of separatism -- hinting that it could respond by recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Earlier this month Russia lifted a range of economic sanctions that had been in place for two years against Georgia, including the complete closure of land, air and sea links.
However, tensions have repeatedly flared since, including Georgia's accusation that a Russian aircraft shot down an unmanned surveillance drone deployed over Abkhazia.
On Tuesday, Georgia's negotiator at talks on Russia's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) confirmed that Tbilisi was blocking Moscow's entry.
"Given the circumstances, this is our new position," deputy economy minister Tamara Kovziridze was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
Story by Sebastian Smith from AFP
AFP 29 2140 GMT 04 08
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