Russia, US exchange accusations at UN over Georgia crisis
Washington, 10 August (IranVNC)—The United States and Russia exchanged words today at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, with Washington suggesting that Moscow was interested in “regime change” in Georgia and Russia accusing the U.S. of military collusion with Georgia.
By: IranVNC
Published: Sunday, August 10, 2008
18:40GMT—2:40PM/EST
GEORGIA – RUSSIA – US – CRISIS
Washington, 10 August (IranVNC)—The United States and Russia exchanged words today at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, with Washington suggesting that Moscow was interested in “regime change” in Georgia and Russia accusing the U.S. of military collusion with Georgia.
The U.S. envoy to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, told the Security Council today that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili “must go”. Khalilzad then twice asked his Russian counterpart, Vitaly Churkin, if Moscow was seeking “regime change”.
Lavrov did not directly answer the question, saying only that there are leaders who “become an obstacle.” He said suggestions that he called for Saakashvili’s resignation as a condition for solving the crisis was a misinterpretation.
He later told reporters that “sometimes those leaders need to contemplate how useful they have become to their people,” according to a UN webcast. “We’re all for democracy in Georgia,” he added.
Khalizad also accused Russia of waging a “campaign of terror against the Georgian population”, saying he would introduce a UN resolution condemning Moscow.
Lavrov called Khalizad’s accusation “completely unacceptable” and told the U.S. not to “undertake propaganda within the Security Council.”
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said it told Russia today that it had ceased fire in the breakaway region of South Ossetia and that it was ready to “immediately start negotiations” on an end to hostilities.
Lavrov confirmed that Georgian forces had withdrawn from the region, but said they were still shooting at Russian soldiers.
Georgia’s UN ambassador, Irakli Alasania, asked the Security Council to stop Russia’s “ongoing aggression and aggravation”. Moscow plans to “erase Georgian statehood and exterminate the Georgian people,” he added.
The White House warned that a continuation of Moscow’s “disproportionate and dangerous escalation” of the conflict will have “a significant long-term impact” on US-Russian relations.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner flew to Tbilisi today on an EU mission to mediate an end to hostilities in South Ossetia, which is now under Russian control. A Russian air strike targeted Tbilisi International Airport today, as well as a military airport on the outskirts of the Georgian capital.
According to Reuters, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will travel to Russia later this week.
The conflict began on Thursday when Georgian forces, using tanks, heavy artillery and aircraft, launched an attack on separatist forces in South Ossetia in an attempt to restore control over the territory.
According to AFP, a senior Georgian military official said today that half of that country’s 2,000 troops in Iraq had returned to Tbilisi to be redeployed.
Iran urged an “immediate end” to fighting in South Ossetia, warning of “negative consequences” for the whole region.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to offer any help … based on its principal policies of contributing to peace and stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hassan Qashqavi was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying yesterday.
According to a report in the Haaretz Newspaper, a senior Israeli official said today that the Israeli Foreign Ministry has recommended a halt of Israeli arms sales to Georgia for fear of inciting Russia to increase its arms sales to Iran and Syria.
Sources: United Nations webcast, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Haaretz Newspaper
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