S.Ossetia Warns of Provocation

Leader of breakaway South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity said on July 4 that provocations from the Georgian side is expected against the Russian peacekeepers during the summit of G8 leaders in St. Petersburg scheduled for July 15-17.

?As far as we know, Georgia is preparing military provocations against Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia in order to mount pressure on Russia during the G8 Summit,? Interfax news agency quoted Kokoity as saying.

Interior Minister of the breakaway region Mikhail Mindzaev said on July 3 that upcoming talks between the Georgian and U.S. Presidents scheduled for July 5 in Washington are very important as if the Georgian side launches sending its troops at the South Ossetian border after July 5 ?it means that Saakashvili has secured the U.S. support in a forceful resolution of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict,? the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.
 
Also on July 3 the Russian parliamentarian Andrei Kokoshin, who chairs the Russian State Duma Committee for CIS Affairs, said that the Russian citizens in South Ossetia will be protected in case of threat. Prior to this statement three leading committees of the Russian State Duma ? CIS, foreign and defense committees – decided to set up a working group on South Ossetia.

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