Ivanov: Troops Maneuver to Help Peacekeepers if Needed

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said on July 20 that ongoing maneuvers of the Russian troops in North Caucasus aim at providing assistance to the Russian peacekeeping troops in case of need, Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported.

Speaking with reporters in the Arctic port of Severodvinsk the Russian Defense Minister, who is also the Vice-Premier said that possibility of fueling tensions in the region ?is quite high.?

He said that Russia has a plan aimed at solving problems ?related with possible escalation of tensions? and added that the ongoing maneuvers under the codename Caucasus Boundary is part of this plan.

He condemned the Georgian Parliament?s July 18 resolution against the Russian peacekeepers, but said that the document ?can hardly have any practical meaning,? as consent of all conflicting parties involved is needed to start pull out of peacekeepers from the South Ossetian and Abkhaz conflict zones.

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