Miliband seeks backing on Russia

Foreign Secretary David Miliband is to meet Ukrainian leaders to try to form a coalition against Russian "aggression".

Izvor: BBC

Wednesday, 27.08.2008.

10:48

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Foreign Secretary David Miliband is to meet Ukrainian leaders to try to form a coalition against Russian "aggression". He will meet leaders in Kiev after Russia formally recognized the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Miliband seeks backing on Russia That decision has been condemned by Western leaders and there are concerns Ukraine could be the next flashpoint. Ukraine's president says it is a hostage in a war waged by Russia against states in the old Soviet bloc. And President Victor Yushchenko said the brief war between Georgia and Russia had exposed serious weaknesses in the powers of the UN and other international bodies. Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake its Russian-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia by force. Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia and an EU-brokered ceasefire. Miliband's visit comes after he urged Russia to "abide by international law" and to withdraw its troops to positions they held before the confrontation. He said Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions "further inflames an already tense situation" adding: "We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow." Moscow's move has been criticized by other world leaders. France, the current holder of the presidency of the European Union, called for a political solution. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said: "We think it is against the territorial integrity of Georgia and we cannot accept it." NATO said it was a "direct violation" of UN resolutions, and U.S. President George Bush warned his Russian counterpart that his "irresponsible decision" was exacerbating tensions in the region. Bush called on Russia to reconsider and "live up to its international commitments".

Miliband seeks backing on Russia

That decision has been condemned by Western leaders and there are concerns Ukraine could be the next flashpoint.

Ukraine's president says it is a hostage in a war waged by Russia against states in the old Soviet bloc.

And President Victor Yushchenko said the brief war between Georgia and Russia had exposed serious weaknesses in the powers of the UN and other international bodies.

Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake its Russian-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia by force.

Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia and an EU-brokered ceasefire.

Miliband's visit comes after he urged Russia to "abide by international law" and to withdraw its troops to positions they held before the confrontation.

He said Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions "further inflames an already tense situation" adding: "We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow."

Moscow's move has been criticized by other world leaders.

France, the current holder of the presidency of the European Union, called for a political solution.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said: "We think it is against the territorial integrity of Georgia and we cannot accept it."

NATO said it was a "direct violation" of UN resolutions, and U.S. President George Bush warned his Russian counterpart that his "irresponsible decision" was exacerbating tensions in the region.

Bush called on Russia to reconsider and "live up to its international commitments".

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