- Title: USA/VARIOUS: Russia faces diplomatic isolation
- Date: 29th August 2008
- Summary: (BN14) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 28, 2008) (POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT WOOD STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON, SAYING: "Those types of charges that the United States was involved in instigating it are without foundation and as I said earlier, ludicrous, plain and simple." WOOD AT PODIUM AND MEDIA
- Embargoed: 13th September 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAC73N92N15G94G25U36KHTYGKE
- Story Text: Russia faces increased diplomatic isolation over its military action against Georgia, as Russia and Georgia trade harsh words during an open United Nations Security Council meeting.
Russia faced increased diplomatic isolation over its military action against Georgia on Thursday (August 28), as Russia and Georgia traded harsh words during an open United Nations Security Council meeting.
The U.N. Security Council refused on Thursday to approve a request from representatives of two Georgian breakaway regions, which Russia has recognized as independent states, to address the council.
In recent months Russia has repeatedly asked the 15-nation council to allow representatives of Georgia's two separatist enclaves, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, to speak to the Security Council but Western council members have reacted coolly.
However, the situation became more complicated this week when Russia formally recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries after invading Georgia earlier this month to thwart an attempt by Tbilisi to regain control over South Ossetia. Both regions broke away from Tbilisi in the 1990s.
During an open Security Council meeting, diplomats traded harsh words, but failed once again to pass any resolutions.
Irakli Alasania, the Georgian Ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council, "Russia continues to occupy the territory of Georgia ensuring the maximum damage to stability, to the economy of my country. On our part, we are complying with the cease-fire agreement and fully commit ourselves to it. We demand the same action for the other parties in the conflict. The Russian Federation has to withdrawal its forces from the Georgian territory to the pre-conflict locations."
Alasania added that despite the military devastation, Georgia will rebound. He said, "Georgia is invaded and occupied, but my nation is not conquered. We will repair the damaged infrastructure, we will rebuild the economy, we will solidify the democracy, and we will find ways, as we did throughout the history of millenniums, for peaceful coexistence of Georgians, Ossetians, and all other members of multi-ethnic communities of my ancient country."
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said at a news conference in Rome earlier on Thursday evening (August 28) that he does not want to see the western world split following the recent crisis in Georgia.
"I have worked hard to try and resolve this international crisis' Berlusconi told reporters.
"I am working at the moment to stop any dangerous moves that will lead to a risk for the western world because there is nothing worse than a fragmented western world. We have done all we can in order to allow Russia to take part in the West and we hope this crisis will not change this previous situation' he said.
Berlusconi has a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin who was the first head of state to meet with the Italian prime minister after his inauguration earlier in the year.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters on Thursday (August 28) the U.S. is in the process of re-evaluating its relationship with Russia, a move that could include imposing sanctions on Moscow, over the Georgia crisis.
"We are doing that in concert with our international partners," she said.
She also said it was premature to say what kind of sanctions against Russia would be considered.
The United States is "not going to be rushed into making decisions without having thoroughly looked at all of the issues," Perino said.
The State Department dismissed as "patently false" a charge by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that someone in the United States provoked the conflict to help one of the two candidates in the U.S.
presidential election in November.
"Those types of charges that the United States was involved in instigating it are without foundation and as I said earlier ludicrous, plain and simple," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.
Russia's powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in a CNN interview he suspected someone in the United States had provoked the Georgia conflict to make the situation more tense and create "a competitive advantage for one of the candidates fighting for the post of U.S. president." He did not elaborate.
The crisis flared early this month when Georgian forces tried to retake the separatist province of South Ossetia and Russia launched an overwhelming counter-attack.
Russian forces swept the Georgian army out of the rebel region and are still occupying some areas of Georgia proper. On Tuesday Moscow announced that it was recognising South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as independent states. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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