Moscow Calls for Restraint over Russian Peacekeepers
On October 12 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on Georgia to not undertake ?sharp moves? in respect to the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zones, the RIA Novosti and Interfax news agencies reported.
Lavrov, who addressed the Russian senators on October 12, said that he has not yet ?seen the text? of the resolution, which was adopted by the Georgian Parliament on October 11, which sets a performance deadline for Russian peacekeepers in Georgia.
?[The Russian Foreign Ministry?s] reaction will follow as soon as I read this [resolution],? Sergey Lavrov said.
Although the Parliament has already passed the resolution, the final version of the text has not been made available, as the Parliament has not published it yet.
?The most important thing is not to make any sharp moves. [It is important] to strengthen mutual confidence between the conflicting sides, which has been lost,? the Russian Foreign Minister said.
He said that the Russian peacekeepers play a crucial role in preventing hostilities between the sides. Lavrov also said that the presence of the peacekeeping troops helps foster positive aspects of the conflict resolution processes.
