The United States is concerned by the recent violation of Georgian airspace by Russian military aircraft over the rebellious Georgian region of South Ossetia, Sean McCormack, spokesman for the US State Department says.
"The United States is concerned by the recent escalation in violence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and calls upon all sides to return to direct negotiations and resolve their differences peacefully," McCormack said.
"We are deeply troubled by Russia's statement that its military aircraft deliberately violated Georgia's internationally recognized borders, over the rebellious Georgian region of South Ossetia".
McCormack said that such "activities raise questions about Russia's role as peacekeeper and facilitator of the negotiations" and also "threaten stability throughout the entire region".
In this connection the US "urged all members of the international community, including Russia, to support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders." The United States fully supports the Friends of the Secretary General process and believes that the efforts of the Friends group will lead to a settlement of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
We would like to remind that yesterday president of Georgia Saakashvli in his interview with British media urged the West to immediately intervene and stop the forthcoming aggression by Russia against Georgia.
The President of Georgia has accused Russia of deliberate provocations in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and urged the West to confront Russia to prevent another conflict from breaking out in the Caucasus:
"I have been hearing that both sides should be exercising restraint. That doesn't look good to me". The West is in sympathy with Tbilisi, but yet it believes that "time is unfortunate for harsh positions".
This Georgian leader made this statement in his interview to The Times during a conference under the name of Yalta European Strategy (YES) at the Levadia Palace, where the wartime allies Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and Franklin D. Roosevelt met in 1945 to partition Europe after Germany's defeat.
Mikhail Saakashvili said that some elements in Russia were intent on provoking trouble in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and compared Europe's response to the failures to the appeasement policies of the 1930s.
"The situation is precarious and the things they [Russia] are doing are outrageous. Unfortunately, they are not opposed by the Europeans and other players," Mr Saakashvili said.
"The West needs to react to it. For some time I have been hearing that both sides should be exercising restraint. That doesn't look good to me. It reminds of some examples from the last century."
Asked if he believed conflict would break out, Mr Saakashvili replied:
"The point is that every day we are waking up with some surprises and when sometimes I think it can't get any worse, then it does get worse."
The Washington Post, in turn, has published an editorial appealing to the US government and European states to prevent the conflict.
"Many in the West are tempted to look the other way. This crisis is, after all, inconvenient... Critical principles, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, are at stake. Russia is seeking to redefine the rules of post-Cold War European security to its advantage. And as Georgia is considered America's project, US prestige is on the line...
"There is one way to stop this Russian power play for Georgia: solidarity. Working with our allies in Europe, we can draw a clear line and tell Moscow that there will be real consequences in its relations with us if it does not stop its aggressive course", Washington Post writes.
According to Georgia's defense ministry, 1,200 US soldiers, some 800 Georgian servicemen, as well as soldiers and officers from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Ukraine are engaged in the Immediate Response -2008 maneuvers.
The military training exercises will be held at the Vaziani military base near Georgian capital Tbilisi July 15 to July 30.
To counterbalance the joint exercises of NATO and Georgia, Russian kuffar (infidels/invaders) are now conducting large-scale exercises under the symbolic name of "Caucasus-2008" in the occupied territories of the Caucasus Emirate, as Russian media report.
"In connection with the worsening situation in the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts, the issues of participation of the troops [of North Caucasus Military Circuit] in the special operations to compel the areas of armed conflict to peace will also be worked out. Some 8,000 servicemen are taking part in the exercises", said Colonel Igor Konashenkov. Gangs of North Caucasus Military District are now being involved in the exercise.
Kavkaz Center
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