Nato ‘to resume ties with Russia’

Nato has agreed to a “conditional and graduated re-engagement” with Russia, the alliance’s secretary general says.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said talks with Moscow, which were frozen over its war with Georgia in August, would resume.

The Nato-Russia Council is not being restored, but the Nato chief said lower-level talks would take place.

Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels also reiterated their support for eventual Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine.

But Nato is deeply divided on the subject, and did not offer the countries their desired membership action plan (MAP).

Moscow strongly opposes their ambitions to join the alliance, and some countries, like Germany, France and Italy, fear offering them MAPs would provoke Russia, correspondents say.

Instead, ministers encouraged Tbilisi and Kiev to pursue reforms needed to join the alliance, without any timetable for entry.

Mr de Hoop Scheffer said that all previous decisions made by Nato heads of state regarding Georgia and Ukraine still stood.

“That includes very much that they will one day be members, if they so wish of course, and important to add, when they meet Nato standards,” he said.

The BBC’s Caroline Wyatt in Brussels says it is clear that neither country will become a member any time soon, and that assistance is all Nato can offer for now.

‘Problematic’

Nato ministers have not revived the Nato-Russia Council, but Mr de Hoop Scheffer said they had agreed to a resumption of lower-level dialogue.

“The Nato-Russia Council will meet on an informal basis to re-engage and to have discussions on the issues on which we will agree and, I would also like to add, on the issues on which we disagree,” he said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, attending her final Nato meeting, insisted “this is not business as usual” and that she still considered Russia’s action in Georgia in August to be “unacceptable”.

She added: “This is not about competition and conflict and domination, but rather about co-operation in a framework in which one treats one’s neighbours, even if they were once a part of the Soviet Union, as equals in the international system.”

Russia’s permanent representative to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, welcomed the decision and said his country was ready for dialogue.

“It is now clear that Nato has accepted the reality that has been shaped by Russia,” he said.

Thousands of Russian troops are still stationed in Georgia’s rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

On Tuesday, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili warned the West of “grave risks of returning to business as usual” with Russia without holding it to account for its actions in Georgia.

“If the international response is not firm, Moscow will make other moves to redraw the region’s map by intimidation or force,” Mr Saakashvili wrote in an article in the Wall Street Journal.

If the international response is not firm, Moscow will make other moves to redraw the region’s map
Mikhail Saakashvili

‘No shortcuts’

Nato was deeply divided on how to proceed following the conflict in August and had to sidestep some bruising internal debates to reach the day’s decisions, correspondents say.

While the US and newer Nato members, from the former Warsaw Pact, are keen to draw Georgia and Ukraine closer, others like Germany and France are wary of antagonising Russia, a key energy supplier.

Nato also does not want Russia to think it has a veto over who joins the alliance, the BBC’s Caroline Wyatt says.

The war also raised doubts among many members over whether Georgia, with its disputed territories, was ready to join the bloc or remained too volatile.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has been beset by political turbulence, with the country split on Nato membership.

Correspondents says it will be a struggle for the alliance to prevent divisions on the issue hardening into permanent fault lines.

 

Georgia accuses Russia of provocation

Georgia said on Thursday that Russia had deployed 2,000 additional troops into South Ossetia in the past week and was preparing “provocations” in the breakaway territory. “In the past week, Russia increased the number of troops by 2,000 to 7,000 staff,” Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told a news conference. “We fear Russia is preparing provocations in South Ossetia,” he said. There was no immediate response from Russian authorities. Utiashvili said dozens of Russian armoured vehicles had been positioned in the disputed Akhalgori region, the southeastern corner of South Ossetia which Georgia insists should be returned to Tbilisi’s control under a French-brokered ceasefire deal. Russia sent troops and tanks into Georgia in August to repel an offensive by the Georgian military to retake pro-Russian South Ossetia, which threw off Tbilisi’s rule in 1991-92. Russia’s powerful counter-strike drove the Georgian Army out of South Ossetia, and Moscow’s troops then pushed further into Georgia, saying they needed to prevent Georgian attacks. The West condemned Russia for a “disproportionate response” and Russian troops have since pulled back from buffer zones around South Ossetia and a second breakaway region, Abkhazia. The Kremlin has recognised both rebel regions as independent states and said it would station 7,600 troops there to provide security. A 225-strong European Union mission is monitoring the ceasefire, patrolling the former buffer zone around South Ossetia up to its de facto border. Russia says the mission will not be allowed to operate inside South Ossetia.

 

Russian drone ‘hit over Georgia’

Russian drone ‘hit over Georgia’

Georgia says its military has shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone that was flying over Georgian territory – a claim denied by Russia. The unmanned plane was downed south of the de facto border with breakaway South Ossetia, the Georgian government said, though no evidence was provided. Russia dismissed the claim as “another media provocation by Georgia”. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia after a short war broke out over the territory last month. Russia has been withdrawing from Georgia proper under a ceasefire deal. European Union monitors have been deploying in Georgia, to verify the Russian withdrawal and oversee the ceasefire. They are due to start patrolling on 1 October. Georgia accused separatists from Abkhazia, a second breakaway region also recognised by Moscow, of breaching the ceasefire and shooting dead a Georgian police officer on Sunday. Drone claims Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the drone was shot down on Monday near the town of Gori, some 30 km (20 miles) from South Ossetia. “It was flying over the territory between the villages of Khurvaleti and Tsitelubani,” Mr Utiashvili said. “We believe it was patrolling the territory where the Baku-Supsa [oil] pipeline runs.” Reconnaissance flights played a role in escalating tensions between Georgia and Russia in the build-up to the war that broke out on 7 August. In May Georgia released video pictures of what it said was a Russian jet shooting down a Georgian drone over Abkhazia. Georgia said the jet had breached its territorial integrity – which was at that stage still recognised by Russia. Russia denied its jet was involved, though UN monitors backed the Georgian claim. Earlier in the month Abkhaz fighters said they had shot down two Georgian drones over Abkhazia – a claim denied by Georgia. In July Russia admitted its jets had flown over South Ossetia. The conflict in the region began when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes. Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

 

Russian drone ‘hit over Georgia’

Russian drone ‘hit over Georgia’

Georgia says its military has shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone that was flying over Georgian territory – a claim denied by Russia. The unmanned plane was downed south of the de facto border with breakaway South Ossetia, the Georgian government said, though no evidence was provided. Russia dismissed the claim as “another media provocation by Georgia”. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia after a short war broke out over the territory last month. Russia has been withdrawing from Georgia proper under a ceasefire deal. European Union monitors have been deploying in Georgia, to verify the Russian withdrawal and oversee the ceasefire. They are due to start patrolling on 1 October. Georgia accused separatists from Abkhazia, a second breakaway region also recognised by Moscow, of breaching the ceasefire and shooting dead a Georgian police officer on Sunday. Drone claims Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the drone was shot down on Monday near the town of Gori, some 30 km (20 miles) from South Ossetia. “It was flying over the territory between the villages of Khurvaleti and Tsitelubani,” Mr Utiashvili said. “We believe it was patrolling the territory where the Baku-Supsa [oil] pipeline runs.” Reconnaissance flights played a role in escalating tensions between Georgia and Russia in the build-up to the war that broke out on 7 August. In May Georgia released video pictures of what it said was a Russian jet shooting down a Georgian drone over Abkhazia. Georgia said the jet had breached its territorial integrity – which was at that stage still recognised by Russia. Russia denied its jet was involved, though UN monitors backed the Georgian claim. Earlier in the month Abkhaz fighters said they had shot down two Georgian drones over Abkhazia – a claim denied by Georgia. In July Russia admitted its jets had flown over South Ossetia. The conflict in the region began when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes. Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

 

Georgia and Ukraine ‘shouldn’t join Nato’

Georgia and Ukraine ‘shouldn’t join Nato’

By Paul Reynolds World affairs correspondent, BBC News website

Russian armour in South Ossetia: who started the war?

In a potentially significant swing of expert Western opinion, a leading British think tank has urged that Nato membership should not be granted to Georgia or Ukraine. “The policy of Nato enlargement now would be a strategic error,” said Dr John Chipman, Director General of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). “There is no case for accelerating membership for Georgia and Ukraine. There is a strong case for a pause,” he said in remarks introducing the IISS’s annual review of world affairs, the Strategic Survey. Current Nato policy, decided at a summit meeting in Bucharest in April, is that both countries should become members eventually but no timetable has been set. Who started the war? The IISS intervention shows that following the war in Georgia, a debate is growing about whether a confrontational approach to Russia is the best one. The IISS is critical of Georgia’s actions during the conflict

The IISS is highly critical of Georgian actions – in contrast to the support Georgia has received from the US and some European countries, notably Britain. Naturally, if Georgia is faulted, then less blame can be put on Russia, whatever its reaction or, as some hold, its over-reaction. Dr Chipman said that the “balance of evidence suggests that Georgia started this war”. Georgia has claimed that Russian forces had already started to enter South Ossetia by the time it acted. Russia has said that it responded to a Georgian attack. Pressure seems to be growing for an international inquiry into the actual sequence of events. The IISS position will undermine sympathy for Georgia and its leader President Mikhail Saakashvili. Its analysis is that Georgia ignored American warnings not to go into South Ossetia and is therefore an unreliable partner at present. ‘No give and take’ But the importance of the intervention goes beyond that, as it calls for a calmer approach to relations with Russia. “There have been major errors of presentation of policy towards Russia. The US and Nato have in the past told Russia to accept whatever was happening. There was no give and take. We are disappointed at the way some Western leaders pushed the Cold War button after Georgia,” said Dr Chipman. “We should not over-inflate the crisis.” He added: “The events of August 2008 do not signify fresh steps towards a new Cold War, because neither side wants one and the stakes are too low to warrant one.” Role for EU Another IISS expert, Oksana Antonenko, reflected the IISS view that with a decline in US influence, the EU should be more active in formulating policy initiatives – but it lacked the means to do so. She said it was good timing that France – a major, influential country -held EU presidency during the Georgia crisis. “It highlighted the fact that EU institutions are highly incapable ones,” she said. “We urgently need a mechanism to stop the presidency from fluctuating between different member states.” We are disappointed at the way some Western leaders pushed the Cold War button after Georgia John Chipman, IISS

The Lisbon Treaty does provide for a permanent presidency and a strengthened foreign policy representative, but it has not been ratified. The IISS report came on a day when Nato defence ministers were meeting in London. There is some feeling in Nato that its priority should be to do more to reassure its existing members, especially those close to Russia, rather than rushing to bring in new members. And that is a view supported in the IISS report. A great deal will depend on the views of the next American president. The Bush administration is all for pushing on with membership for Ukraine and Georgia, and the issue will be taken up again at Nato meetings in December. A British official predicted that there would be no slowing of support for Georgia and no disposition to reward Russia. But no quick decisions are likely in the current uncertain state of affairs. Paul.Reynolds-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

 

Russia to keep troops in Georgia

Russia to keep troops in Georgia

Russian troops will remain in the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali

Russia says it will keep 7,600 troops in Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after withdrawing from the rest of the country. On Monday, Russia agreed to withdraw its troops from positions within Georgia, taken up during the recent conflict, by mid-October. But the Russian president ordered troop bases be set up in the regions. Russia’s foreign minister said the troops were expected to remain in place “for the foreseeable future”. “They will be there a long time,” Sergei Lavrov said from Moscow. “This is absolutely necessary, so as not to allow a repeat of armed actions,” he added. Mr Lavrov said that both regions – which Russia has now recognised as independent – should also be able to participate in talks on Georgia scheduled for next month in Geneva with “fully fledged” places. International observers Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that some 3,800 men would be positioned in each breakaway region. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had already indicated that Moscow intended to maintain a military presence in the regions, but Mr Serdyukov’s statement provides the first specific breakdown of troop numbers. On Monday, Mr Medvedev pledged to withdraw troops from the rest of Georgia on condition that the EU would deploy at least 200 observers, along with 220 other international monitors to ensure the security of the two breakaway regions. Russian troops are present in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as in so-called buffer zones around these regions and near the strategic port city of Poti. Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force. Russian forces launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

 

Russia’s conflict with Georgia

US wary of punishing Russia for conflict with Georgia New York, Sep 4 (ANI): The Bush administration does not plan to draw up a “mindless list” of penalties that could alienate Russia because of its recent conflict with Georgia. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Daniel Fried said Washington is keen to know how much Russia would like to isolate itself from the world. We don’t want to have a bad relationship with Russia. We’ve never wanted that,” the New York Times quoted Fried, as saying. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has asked her advisers to “think this (stand-off with Russia) through in a serious way,” as the Bush Administration is nearing its end. With the European Union failing to reach an agreement Monday on imposing sanctions for Moscow’s invasion of Georgia, Fried has been consulting with EU officials on “next steps,” to be taken, if any, against Moscow. Meanwhile, Vice-President Dick Cheney is on a visit to Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan to assess the fall out of the conflict. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has ordered a review of military cooperation agreements with Russia as part of a wider evaluation of relations in response to the continued presence of Russian troops in parts of Georgia. The review, a Pentagon spokesman said, encompasses the Pentagon’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a program to combat the proliferation of nuclear, biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction. However, the most prominent program administered by the agency – known as Nunn-Lugar – will not be affected, said Mark Hayes, a spokesman for Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Georgia sent troops into the enclave of South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an attempt to regain control of the republic, which had declared independence from Georgia on several occasions. Russia retaliated by sending troops into South Ossetia; another disputed enclave, Abkhazia; and Georgia. Despite agreeing to a cease-fire brokered by France last month, Russian troops remain in parts of Georgia. Before the Russian incursion, Gates said, the United States thought it could have a “long-term strategic dialogue” with Russia. But the invasion has called into question the entire premise of U.S.-Russia talks, he said, adding that ties could be negatively affected for years. Other activities subject to review include: Partnership for Peace exercises, several bilateral military exercises, several naval exercises and tabletop exercises, in which participants study strategy around a table or in a classroom. The Bush administration also is putting off implementation of an Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, or the so-called “123 Agreement,” which was approved in May. A senior U.S. official said there should have been “a clear high-level warning to the Russians,” but the Bush administration did not issue one because it “didn’t think they would invade Georgia proper.” Mr. Fried echoed other U.S. and European calls on Moscow to fully respect a cease-fire and to pull all its troops out of Georgia, and said the West is struggling to figure out how to “make clear that [the Russians’] acts against Georgia and threats against other neighbors are unacceptable” without antagonizing the Russian people. (ANI)

 

Putin says US was behind conflict

Mr Putin said US citizens were in the area during the conflict Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the US of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia, possibly for domestic election purposes. Mr Putin told CNN US citizens were “in the area” during the conflict over South Ossetia and were “taking direct orders from their leaders”. He said his defence officials had told him this was to benefit one of the US presidential candidates. The White House dismissed the allegations as “not rational”. Georgia tried to retake the Russian-backed separatist region of South Ossetia this month by force after a series of clashes. Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and another rebel region, Abkhazia, and an EU-brokered ceasefire. Diplomatic wrangling Mr Putin said in the interview: “The fact is that US citizens were indeed in the area in conflict during the hostilities. “It should be admitted that they would do so only following direct orders from their leaders.” Those claims first and foremost are patently false, but it also sounds like his defence officials who said they believed this to be true are giving him really bad advice Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman Meeting Russia’s ‘Number One’ Testing for a new ‘Cold War’ Miliband warns over Russia crisis Mr Putin added: “The American side in effect armed and trained the Georgian army. “Why… seek a difficult compromise solution in the peacekeeping process? It is easier to arm one of the sides and provoke it into killing another side. And the job is done. “The suspicion arises that someone in the United States especially created this conflict with the aim of making the situation more tense and creating a competitive advantage for one of the candidates fighting for the post of US president.” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino rejected the allegation. “To suggest that the United States orchestrated this on behalf of a political candidate – it sounds not rational,” she said. “Those claims first and foremost are patently false, but it also sounds like his defence officials who said they believed this to be true are giving him really bad advice.” SOUTH OSSETIA & ABKHAZIA South Ossetia Population: About 70,000 (before recent conflict) Capital: Tskhinvali President: Eduard Kokoity Abkhazia Population: About 250,000 (2003) Capital: Sukhumi President: Sergei Bagapsh Profile: South Ossetia Profile: Abkhazia Q&A: Conflict in Georgia Diplomatic wrangling over Russia’s actions in Georgia continued on Thursday with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner suggesting some EU countries were considering sanctions. Mr Kouchner insisted France had made no proposals for sanctions itself but, as current president of the EU, would aim to get consensus among all 27 countries of the bloc if sanctions were envisaged. France has called an emergency EU summit on Monday to reassess relations with Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described talk of sanctions as the working of “a sick imagination”. Such talk was an emotional response that demonstrated Western confusion over the situation, he said. The US has said it is now considering scrapping a US-Russia civilian nuclear co-operation pact in response to the conflict. “I don’t think there’s anything to announce yet, but I know that that is under discussion,” Mr Perino said. The White House has also announced that up to $5.75m (£3.1m) will be freed to help Georgia meet “unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs”. Rocket test Earlier on Thursday Russia failed to get strong backing from its Asian allies over the Georgia conflict. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), comprising Russia, China and Central Asian nations, met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and spoke of its deep concern. The group did not follow Russia in recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev insisted he had the backing of the nations over Moscow’s actions. Amid the rising tension, Russia announced on Thursday it had successfully tested its long-range Topol ballistic missile from a launch site in Kamchatka in the far east of the country. Russia says the rocket is capable of penetrating the proposed US missile defence.

 

US warns Russia of lasting impact

US warns Russia of lasting impact

The US defence chief has warned relations with Russia could be damaged for years if Moscow does not step back from “aggressive” actions in Georgia.

Russian troops have begun handing back the town of Gori to the Georgians

But Robert Gates said he did not see a need for US military force in Georgia. His words came as Moscow said the idea of Georgian territorial integrity was an irrelevance. Georgia’s breakaway regions – Abkhazia and South Ossetia – would never agree to being part of Georgia again, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Earlier, Russia said it had began handing back the town of Gori to Georgian police but insisted its troops would stay in the area. A Russian general said his forces were there to remove weaponry and help restore law and order in Gori, which lies some 15km (10 miles) from South Ossetia and on a key route to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. Elsewhere, eyewitnesses in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti said that Russian troops had entered the town in armoured vehicles. Moscow had earlier denied the reports but Russia’s deputy chief of staff, Gen Anatoly Nogovitsyn, told a televised news conference it was legitimate for Russians to be in Poti as part of intelligence-gathering operations. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that more than 100 Russian vehicles, some of them armoured, had gathered outside the major western Georgian town of Zugdidi. Despite concerns that Moscow may not be keen quickly to leave Georgian territory, Mr Gates said the Russians did seem to be pulling back. “They appear to be withdrawing their forces back towards Abkhazia and to the zone of conflict… towards South Ossetia,” he said. Gen James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, also said he believed Russia was “generally complying” with the terms of the truce, which called for its withdrawal from hostilities. But, Mr Gates warned: “If Russia does not step back from its aggressive posture and actions in Georgia, the US-Russian relationship could be adversely affected for years to come.” The Russians were trying to redress what they regarded as the many concessions forced on them after the breakup of the Soviet Union and were trying to “reassert their international status”, Mr Gates said. Georgia was also being punished for its efforts to integrate with the West and in particular to join Nato, the defence secretary went on. The BBC’s Justin Webb in Washington says Mr Gates’s address was the first effort by a senior member of the Bush administration to set out what the Americans believe is happening in Russia. But while Mr Gates said Russia’s aggressive posture was not acceptable, our correspondent says, he took an unusual step for the Bush administration in ruling out the use of US force. This is not a fight that America wants to have. Withdrawal Georgia attacked the rebel region of South Ossetia from Gori a week ago, prompting Russian retaliation. The Georgians say it followed continuous provocation. Both sides agreed to a French-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday, amid international concern, but it has seemed fragile so far. Earlier on Thursday in Moscow, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia would respect any decision South Ossetia and Abkhazia made about their future status. His words followed warnings from the US that Russia had to respect Georgia’s territorial sovereignty and withdraw its forces. Meanwhile, the US has sent its second shipment of humanitarian aid into Georgia. Russia has questioned whether the deliveries contain only humanitarian supplies.

Russia has questioned what is in US aid deliveries to Georgia