U.S. Senator Speaks of Georgia

U.S. Senator John McCain criticized Russia?s policy towards Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova and called on the G8 to discuss the issue of the ?frozen conflicts? at a summit in St. Petersburg in July.

The U.S. Senator was addressing the Brussels Forum: Transatlantic Challenges in a Global Era on April 29. The forum is also being attended by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

?In recent years, Moscow has pursued increasingly troubling foreign and domestic policies, and the trends continue to worsen. In the past few months alone, Russia has used its natural gas supplies to punish democratic Ukraine in the middle of winter, embargoed the import of wine from Moldova and Georgia,? Senator McCain said.

?I am encouraged that the ‘frozen conflicts’ in Georgia and Moldova will be on the agenda [of the G8 heads of state summit]. We should be crystal clear: these conflicts endure because of Russian policy and Russian support for illegal separatists,? he added.

He also said that NATO should endorse a Membership Action Plan for Ukraine and Georgia ?as soon as possible.?

?[Georgia] has implemented far-reaching political, economic, and military reforms, and has presented a viable peace plan for South Ossetia,? McCain said.

Later on the same day, Senator McCain said at a news conference that he sees ?no reason for the Russians? to ban the import of Georgian wine.

?I hope that the United States would appreciate the quality of Georgian wine, which for many centuries has been appreciated throughout, at least, this part of the world and that we would try to help out with exports to the United States.  I see no reason for the Russians to do it but I can?t criticize; I can?t tell them what their policies towards the import of Georgian wine [should be] but it?s just another step as they put the squeeze on Georgia,? McCain said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)