West asks Russia to revoke move on Georgia regions

By Patrick Worsnip

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Western countries called on Russia on Wednesday to revoke moves establishing closer ties with two breakaway regions of Georgia, which have helped spark a new crisis between the ex-Soviet states.

But, after a U.N. Security Council discussion of the crisis, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin called the demand by the United States, Britain, France and Germany a "tall order" and said it was "not going to happen."

In an instruction last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to recognize some documents issued by separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and cooperate with those regions on trade and other issues.

Relations took a further turn for the worse last Sunday when a pilotless Georgian reconnaissance drone was shot down over Abkhazia. Tbilisi blamed Russia but the Russian air force has denied responsibility.

In a statement issued as the council met, the four Western powers said they were "highly concerned" about the move on ties with the breakaway regions, adding: "We call on the Russian Federation to revoke or not to implement its decision."

Asked by reporters to respond, Churkin said, "This is of course a tall order and I think that they themselves understand that this is not something which is going to happen."

Georgia has accused Russia of "creeping annexation" of the rebel territories since they threw off Tbilisi's control in fighting in the 1990s.

Churkin said Moscow's moves did not constitute diplomatic recognition of the two regions and did not involve enhanced military cooperation with them.