Merkel, Medvedev clash on Georgia

Angela Merkel says that some of the Russian actions in Georgia were disproportionate, after a meeting with Dimitry Medvedev. The meeting in Sochi between the German chancellor and the Russian president was agreed upon earlier. Merkel, Medvedev clash on Georgia She told journalists at a press conference that the solution to the conflict must begin with recognition of Georgia’s territorial integrity. Medvedev, however, said that even though Russia was respecting the principles of territorial integrity, it is “still not very likely that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will be ready to return to being a part of Georgia after this conflict.” He said that Russia would react in a similar way if its citizens or military forces were attacked again. “If someone starts attacking our citizens again, or our peacekeeping forces, we will of course react in the same way that we have reacted. Don’t doubt that for a moment,” he stressed. Merkel said that she thought it was “unwise” for Russian troops to stay in Georgia. “I believe that some of the Russian actions were disproportionate. I also believe that the presence of Russian forces in Georgia is unwise, that the six-point (peace) plan needs to be implemented immediately, and that Russian troops should pull out of Georgia,” said Merkel. Medvedev said that the Georgian side must respect the peace plan brokered with the mediation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. He added that Moscow “does not want to sour relations” with the West in the context of the Georgian crisis. Medvedev said that Russia did not oppose the presence of international peacekeepers in Georgia, but that South Ossetia and Abkhazia did not trust anyone other than the Russians. Angela Merkel (FoNet, archive) Russian retreat hinges on Saakashvili signature The condition for Russian troops pulling out of Georgia is for Mikheil Saakashvili to sign a ceasefire deal. “American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will bring a number of documents that will enable the ceasefire to be consolidated,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after speaking with Rice in France, Reuters reports. Sarkozy said that if the Georgian president signed the documents today given to him by Rice, and which have already been discussed with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, then Russian troops could begin pulling out. The French president did not clarify whether those documents were in fact the six-point plan that he had been dicussing with Medvedev and Saakashvili, or an entirely different document. The Georgian president said yesterday that his signature was not needed on the peace agreement. Meanwhile, Georgia has stated that the EU’s six-point plan for ending the conflict with Russia secures the groundwork for talks to be led by the United Nations. Georgian Ambassador to the UN Irakli Alasania said in New York that some points of the EU plan should be cleared up, especially the parts about respecting Georgia’s territorial integrity. He explained that Tbilisi was asking Russia for a full and effective ceasefire, since Georgia was already applying one, adding that Moscow must end its occupation of Georgian territory, and that South Ossetia and Abkhazia must be demilitarized with an international guarantee.

Merkel, Medvedev clash on Georgia

She told journalists at a press conference that the solution to the conflict must begin with recognition of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Medvedev, however, said that even though Russia was respecting the principles of territorial integrity, it is “still not very likely that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will be ready to return to being a part of Georgia after this conflict.”

He said that Russia would react in a similar way if its citizens or military forces were attacked again.

“If someone starts attacking our citizens again, or our peacekeeping forces, we will of course react in the same way that we have reacted. Don’t doubt that for a moment,” he stressed.

Merkel said that she thought it was “unwise” for Russian troops to stay in Georgia.

“I believe that some of the Russian actions were disproportionate. I also believe that the presence of Russian forces in Georgia is unwise, that the six-point (peace) plan needs to be implemented immediately, and that Russian troops should pull out of Georgia,” said Merkel.

Medvedev said that the Georgian side must respect the peace plan brokered with the mediation of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

He added that Moscow “does not want to sour relations” with the West in the context of the Georgian crisis.

Medvedev said that Russia did not oppose the presence of international peacekeepers in Georgia, but that South Ossetia and Abkhazia did not trust anyone other than the Russians.

Russian retreat hinges on Saakashvili signature

The condition for Russian troops pulling out of Georgia is for Mikheil Saakashvili to sign a ceasefire deal.

“American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will bring a number of documents that will enable the ceasefire to be consolidated,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after speaking with Rice in France, Reuters reports.

Sarkozy said that if the Georgian president signed the documents today given to him by Rice, and which have already been discussed with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, then Russian troops could begin pulling out.

The French president did not clarify whether those documents were in fact the six-point plan that he had been dicussing with Medvedev and Saakashvili, or an entirely different document.

The Georgian president said yesterday that his signature was not needed on the peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Georgia has stated that the EU’s six-point plan for ending the conflict with Russia secures the groundwork for talks to be led by the United Nations.

Georgian Ambassador to the UN Irakli Alasania said in New York that some points of the EU plan should be cleared up, especially the parts about respecting Georgia’s territorial integrity.

He explained that Tbilisi was asking Russia for a full and effective ceasefire, since Georgia was already applying one, adding that Moscow must end its occupation of Georgian territory, and that South Ossetia and Abkhazia must be demilitarized with an international guarantee.