UN urges Georgia not to 'provoke'

[bemildred]

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution urging Georgia to refrain from provocative action in the breakaway region of Abkhazia.

The resolution also renewed the mandate of a UN mission in Abkhazia which began after the region split in the 1990s.

Tensions rose in July when Georgian troops entered Abkhazia's remote Kodori Gorge to drive out a rebel militia.

Russia had urged a stronger resolution to criticise Georgia for its presence in the Kodori Gorge.

BBC

[Norbu]

1. russia is busy while US prepares for Iran war

Georgian President Vows No Military Plans in Breakaway Regions
By VOA News
21 October 2006

Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has ruled out any plans for military action in the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Mr. Saakashvili said he prefers dialogue with Russia to resolve the crisis sparked by pro-Russian separatists in those regions.

On Friday, Mr. Putin accused Georgia of planning military action in the breakaway areas and he warned there could be a bloodbath.

Georgia's foreign minister, Gela Bezhuashvili, rejected the comments and accused Mr. Putin of misinforming European leaders about the issue. Georgia has vowed to bring the regions back under control, after separatists declared independence in the early 1990s.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Moscow Saturday and urged the two nations to lower their hostile rhetoric. Rice said she plans to discuss the crisis during talks with Mr. Putin.

Tensions between the two former Soviet republics also have been high because of the arrest of four Russian army officers accused of spying in Georgia. Georgia later released the men.

Russia denied the charges and retaliated with sanctions against Georgia. In recent weeks, Russia has deported hundreds of Georgians suspected of being illegal immigrants.

[Eugene]

2. NATO hopes Russia will lift sanctions on Georgia

NATO hopes Russia will lift sanctions on Georgia
26 Oct 2006 12:17:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

MOSCOW, Oct 26 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
expressed hope on Thursday that Russia would lift punitive measures
imposed on Georgia over what Moscow says are moves to use force against
separatist regions.

"It is important for all parties, for the two parties in fact, to show restraint,
moderation and deescalation," de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference
after talks in Moscow.

"I hope that in this framework it will also be possible that some of the
measures that had been taken in this conflict by the Russian Federation
could be lifted."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26913736.htm