Tbilisi Warns of Provocations in South Ossetia

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Merab Antadze said on July 10 that stirring of tensions are planned in the South Ossetian conflict zone.
 
?Recent statements made by Russian officials as if Georgia is getting ready for forceful solution of the South Ossetian conflict, is an attempt to prepare both the Russian society and the international community for possible military actions, which will be resorted by Russia, as it claims, to protect its citizens [in the breakaway region],? Antadze said at a news briefing.
 
He said that the Georgian authorities will not yield to provocations and try to settle the conflict only peacefully.

Merab Antadze said that Russia?s decision to close down border checkpoint in Zemo Larsi, which is the only legally operating border crossing point between Russia and Georgia, was ?a deliberate move? and an attempt to redirect movement of cargo and passenger via Roki Tunnel in breakaway South Ossetia.

?This is an attempt to move Russian-Georgian border at Ergneti [village at the administrative border between Georgia and its breakaway region of South Ossetia], which aims at destabilization of situation in the conflict zone? Georgia will not yield to these provocations,? Merab Antadze said.

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