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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia: Saakashvili still a threat |
| 2008-09-27 |
| Russia warns Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili could return chaos to the Caucasus, following his recent order to attack the region. In a warning message, addressed to the EU, the Russian foreign ministry noted that 'Saakashvili's habit of breaking promises' continued to constitute a threat to the region, the northern parts of which came under attack on August 7, by the Georgian army in an attempt to retake the independence-leaning republic of South Ossetia. "We hope that the European Union, which pledged to guarantee the non-use of force principle, will take into account Saakashvili's habit of breaking promises," Ria Novosti reported quoting the contents of the ministry's statement. An EU mission is expected in the region by October 1st, to guarantee observation of a French brokered cessation agreement on the issue. The statement echoes Russian officials raising similar concerns. Last month, Russia's Deputy Chief of Staff, Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn said that "we have registered an increase in [Georgia's] reconnaissance activities and preparations for armed actions in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone". Russia had repeatedly cautioned Tbilisi against manhandling the situation in the region after suspecting Georgia of being behind uncalled-for armed movements and reconnaissance flights in the republic. Georgia, however, conducted the attack eliciting an armed response from Russia. Moscow, as well, accuses Tbilisi of acting on US' orders. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told the country's NTV television last month that "it is hard to imagine that Saakashvili embarked on this risky venture without some sort of approval from the side of the United States." "Mikheil Saakashvili, who is a war criminal, was used by crazy radicals from Washington, usually neocons headed by Vice-President Dick Cheney," State Duma Deputy Sergei Markov told Press TV earlier in the month. Georgia, on the other hand, alleges that Russia is seeking 'acquisitive interests' in moving closer to the republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia which, on August 26, were recognized by Moscow as independent states. "The Russian Federation's actions are an attempt to militarily annex a sovereign state - the nation of Georgia," Saakashvili said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 TOPIX > CZECH, RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE QUARREL OVER US MISSLE SHIELD. Russ INTEL Agents working hard for mainstream Czechs + Govt. to fell the NYET over GMD-BMD MisBases in Czech land. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-27 00:38 |