Russia troop increase in Abkhazia "not wise" -EU

LUXEMBOURG, April 29 (Reuters) - Russia's move to send extra peacekeepers to the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia risks adding to tensions in the region, the European Union said after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.

"Even if the increase in peacekeepers is within limits, if we want to diminish the perception of tensions, I don't think it is a wise measure to increase now," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told a joint news conference in Luxembourg.

Lavrov said Russia wanted normal ties with Georgia but said it was duty bound to protect Russian citizens in the area and said it would retaliate if Tbilisi used force. (Reporting by Mark John)