Moscow Says Tbilisi Wants to Solve Conflicts with Force

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on October 13 that Georgia?s increasing defense spending signals Tbilisi?s intention to solve Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts through use of force.

The Russian MFA issued an information note in a response to the statement made by Georgia?s Representative to the United Nations Vazha Adamia at the General Debate of the First Committee of 60th Session of the UN General Assembly on October 7. Adamia slammed Russia for arming secessionist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and described Moscow?s support to the ?aggressive separatism? as ?annexation? of Georgia?s territory.
 
?In our opinion, Mr. Adamia?s statements either prove his unawareness of the actual state of affairs or is yet another step to fuel atmosphere in the Georgian-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhaz conflicts,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s information note issued on October 13 reads.
 
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that mortar shelling of the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on September 20 ?from the Georgian territory? has triggered a new wave of confrontation.

The Russian MFA also noted that Georgia?s defense expenditures have increased in three fold in recent two years. ?Drastic increase in purchasing of armament and military equipment from abroad, including from the NATO member states, proves that Tbilisi plans to solve Georgian-South Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhaz conflicts through forceful means,? the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

The MFA said that Georgia uses the UN rostrum for ?anti-Russian campaign? in order ?to denigrate the role of the Russian peacekeeping activities and thus to open the way for a forceful solution to these problems.?
 
?This is a dangerous path, fraught with grave consequences for Georgia itself. There is the sad experience of such scenarios, and Tbilisi ought to well remember that,? the Russian Foreign Ministry warned.

The Russian MFA also commented on Adamia?s statement, in which he said that ?separatist regimes,? backed by ?Russian militaries and state institutions? give an opportunity to acquire arms and ?even weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups.?
 
?Mr. Adamia went as far as to say that Russia was supporting terrorists in the Caucasus… It is well known that we are waging a ruthless fight against terrorists. That is why the Russian side continues to have serious questions about Tbilisi’s connivance with the terrorists who have entrenched themselves in the Pankisi Gorge [north-eastern Georgia] and in a number of other regions of Georgia,? the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

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