Russia warns Georgia over moves to join NATO
(Adds quotes, details)
By Oleg Shchedrov
ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 6 (Reuters) - Russia on Friday condemned moves by Georgia to join NATO, saying they could lead to bloodshed in the former Soviet republic's breakaway areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"We reiterated our strong interest in seeing those conflicts resolved," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after talks between the Russian and Georgian leaders at an informal summit of leaders from the ex-Soviet Union.
"We stated this could not be achieved by moving Georgia artificially into NATO because this would lead to another spiral of confrontation in the area."
Lavrov said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had pressed his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili to sign a commitment not to use force against Moscow-backed separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia's pro-Western leaders have secured a promise from NATO to eventually join the Western defence alliance, although they have not been given a timetable for accession.
Moscow, which has traditionally viewed Georgia as part of its sphere of influence, says Georgian accession to NATO would threaten Russian security.
"If they think this (NATO membership) would be an instrument to solve the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this is an illusion. We could only watch another bloodshed," Lavrov said.
UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS
Diplomats say the row between Moscow and Tbilisi over Abkazia, a lush region on the Black Sea that threw off central rule in a 1990s war, has come close in the past few months to spilling over into new fighting.
Georgia accuses Russia of effectively annexing the region and heightening tensions by sending in troops, while Moscow alleges Tbilisi is planning an attack.
Speaking at the start of their talks -- the first meeting since Medvedev was sworn in as president last month -- both leaders said they believed their disputes could be settled.
"We have many unresolved problems but no unsolvable issues," Saakashvili told Medvedev. Georgian officials made no comment to the media after the talks ended.
Western diplomats had expressed hope Friday's meeting could defuse the tensions. Medvedev has displayed a more consensual style than his predecessor Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy with whom Saakashvili had stormy relations.
Lavrov said the meeting had been calm and constructive, and that the two leaders agreed to continue discussions.
He also mounted a firm defence of Russia's policy on Abkhazia, in the face of complaints from the European Union and United States that Moscow's actions are stoking tensions.
Lavrov said Russia had only sent in troops to contain "a possible use of force by our Georgian colleagues who were very seriously and quite openly discussing the use of force."
Tbilisi has said it had no plans to use its military to intervene in Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
"For the time being the ball is on the Georgian side," Lavrov said. "We believe our Georgian colleagues are not delivering on many understandings and commitments."
Lavrov also said he saw no need for new mediators from outside the region, despite an offer made by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on a visit to Georgia on Friday to play a role in peace talks. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Matthew Jones)
By Oleg Shchedrov
ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 6 (Reuters) - Russia on Friday condemned moves by Georgia to join NATO, saying they could lead to bloodshed in the former Soviet republic's breakaway areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"We reiterated our strong interest in seeing those conflicts resolved," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after talks between the Russian and Georgian leaders at an informal summit of leaders from the ex-Soviet Union.
"We stated this could not be achieved by moving Georgia artificially into NATO because this would lead to another spiral of confrontation in the area."
Lavrov said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had pressed his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili to sign a commitment not to use force against Moscow-backed separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia's pro-Western leaders have secured a promise from NATO to eventually join the Western defence alliance, although they have not been given a timetable for accession.
Moscow, which has traditionally viewed Georgia as part of its sphere of influence, says Georgian accession to NATO would threaten Russian security.
"If they think this (NATO membership) would be an instrument to solve the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this is an illusion. We could only watch another bloodshed," Lavrov said.
UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS
Diplomats say the row between Moscow and Tbilisi over Abkazia, a lush region on the Black Sea that threw off central rule in a 1990s war, has come close in the past few months to spilling over into new fighting.
Georgia accuses Russia of effectively annexing the region and heightening tensions by sending in troops, while Moscow alleges Tbilisi is planning an attack.
Speaking at the start of their talks -- the first meeting since Medvedev was sworn in as president last month -- both leaders said they believed their disputes could be settled.
"We have many unresolved problems but no unsolvable issues," Saakashvili told Medvedev. Georgian officials made no comment to the media after the talks ended.
Western diplomats had expressed hope Friday's meeting could defuse the tensions. Medvedev has displayed a more consensual style than his predecessor Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy with whom Saakashvili had stormy relations.
Lavrov said the meeting had been calm and constructive, and that the two leaders agreed to continue discussions.
He also mounted a firm defence of Russia's policy on Abkhazia, in the face of complaints from the European Union and United States that Moscow's actions are stoking tensions.
Lavrov said Russia had only sent in troops to contain "a possible use of force by our Georgian colleagues who were very seriously and quite openly discussing the use of force."
Tbilisi has said it had no plans to use its military to intervene in Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
"For the time being the ball is on the Georgian side," Lavrov said. "We believe our Georgian colleagues are not delivering on many understandings and commitments."
Lavrov also said he saw no need for new mediators from outside the region, despite an offer made by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on a visit to Georgia on Friday to play a role in peace talks. (Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Matthew Jones)
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