Lavrov Comments on Russian Peacekeepers

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on January 17 that he hopes ?common sense will prevail? in Georgia while deciding whether to demand the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the South Ossetian conflict zone or not, Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported.

?The peacekeeping forces in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zones have been securing a non-resumption of hostilities for many years. Everyone should about how security will be guaranteed in the absence of the peacekeepers in these zones,? Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference.

Parliamentary hearings about the performance of the Russian peacekeepers in the South Ossetian conflict zone will reportedly take place on February 7. After hearing testimonies by governmental members, parliamentarians will decide whether to demand the peacekeepers’ withdrawal or not.

?If the Georgian Parliament insists on [implementing] its decision [to pull out the peacekeepers] and the government of Georgia puts this into practice, we will have to consider…all existing aspects of the situation,? Lavrov said.

The Russian Foreign Minister expressed hope that the Georgian politicians make their decision while considering the ?interests of the Georgian, Abkhazian and Ossetian people.?

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