Georgia Condemns ?Unauthorized? Movement of Arms in South Ossetia

A statement issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry on July 8 condemns the unauthorized movement of arms in South Ossetia and expresses concern that ?the uncontrolled transportation? of weapons by Russian armed forces poses ?a serious threat to peace and stability in the country.?

Georgian internal troops detained and confiscated two trucks from Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia on July 7. The trucks were carrying, as the Georgian Foreign Ministry reports, ?a voluminous array of weapons and military equipment, including about 300 highly explosive non-guided missiles.? Russia condemned the move by Georgia, callind it ?a provocation? and demanded the immediate return of the confiscated arms.  
 
?While the Georgian side is employing a maximum amount of effort to achieve a peaceful solution to problems in the conflict zone, the uncoordinated actions of the Russian peacekeeping forces serve only to escalate and further complicated the conflict resolution process,? quotes a statement issued by the Georgian Foreign Ministry.
 
The Georgian authorities reiterated that Tbilisi?s ?preference lies with peaceful methods of conflict settlement? in the breakaway republic.