Peacekeepers Foil Tbilisi’s Hostile Plans – Russian Minister

Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zones are the only obstacle “hindering Georgia’s military machine,” Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian deputy foreign minister, said on November 29.

“Tbilisi is sending signals indicating that it is not in favor of a peaceful resolution of the conflicts,” Yakovenko said in an interview with Itar-Tass news agency. “It is leaning more towards forceful, intimidating methods. The events of November 7 have demonstrated that Saakashvili is even prepared to use force against his own people within Georgia.”

“In 2007 the Georgian side actually refused to continue with the normal negotiating processes as laid out in existing international agreements and norms.”

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