- Title: UKRAINE: Britain calls for a new policy towards Kremlin
- Date: 28th August 2008
- Summary: (BN14) KIEV, UKRAINE (AUGUST 27, 2008) (REUTERS) BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID MILIBAND STANDING ADDRESSING STUDENTS AT KYVIV-MOHYLA UNIVERSITY (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID MILIBAND, BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYING: "I do not apologise for rejecting knee-jerk calls for Russia to be expelled from the G8 or for EU-Russia or NATO-Russia relations to be broken. But we do need to examine the nature, depth and breadth of relations with Russia" STUDENTS LISTENING CUT AWAY, PORTRAIT ON THE WALL PEOPLE LEAVING AT THE END OF OF TALK
- Embargoed: 12th September 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Reuters ID: LVAALU7QT4747OTV67BZ8V0ZF59F
- Story Text: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband condemns Russia's recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and says relations with Moscow should be reviewed.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband visiting the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, on Wednesday (August 27) warned Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he had a "big responsibility" not to provoke a new Cold War with the West.
Britain, which already has strained ties with Moscow over spy scandals, was among many countries to condemn Russia's recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Miliband said Russia should stay within the G8, but relations should be re-examined.
"I do not apologise for rejecting knee-jerk calls for Russia to be expelled from the G8 or for EU-Russia relations to be broken. But we do need to examine the nature, depth and breadth of relations with Russia," he said.
He added there would be a conference call involving the foreign ministers of the G7 -- unprecedented since the G7 became the G8.
But he toned down comments he made on Tuesday which suggested creating a "coalition against Russian aggression", saying he was referring to the chorus of voices that condemned Russia's recognition of the two regions' independence.
Russia's military launched an overwhelming counter-attack earlier this month after Georgia tried to regain control of South Ossetia by force and Moscow's troops are still occupying parts of Georgian territory.
Miliband repeated Britain's strong backing for Ukraine to join the NATO military alliance -- which Russia strongly opposes -- and the European Union.
Miliband's comments came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned President Medvedev to press him to withdraw Russian troops from Georgia in line with the commitments he made in a ceasefire agreement brokered by the European Union.
EU leaders will gather to discuss the crisis in an emergency summit in Brussels on Monday summoned by French President Nicolas Sarkozy who currently holds the rotating EU presidency. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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