Lavrov Warns Georgia Over Use of Force in S.Ossetia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on June 1 that Georgia’s recent provocations in the South Ossetian conflict zone might be an indication of Tbilisi’s plans to solve the conflict through forceful means, Russian news agencies reported.

He told reporters that if Georgia will really try to use force, “I think it will be a huge mistake.”

Lavrov reiterated the position outlined by the Russian Foreign Ministry in its information note issued earlier on June 1, stating that although Russia respects Georgia’s territorial integrity, South Ossetia is an internationally recognized conflict zone where Russian peacekeepers are preserving the peace.