Russian, U.S. Diplomats Discuss S. Ossetia

Russia hopes the U.S. will “constructively influence” Tbilisi to help defuse tensions in South Ossetia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried.

The two diplomats spoke by phone on August 3 and discussed recent tensions in the South Ossetian conflict zone, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Monday.

“The Russian side expressed deep concern about the new wave of tensions in South Ossetia, as well as the illegal actions of the Georgian side involving building up its armed forces in the region and uncontrolled construction of military fortifications,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “All these developments cause anxiety among the residents of South Ossetia, which has already led to the launch of the evacuation of children and women.”

“Russia has already called on Tbilisi to take a responsible approach and [Moscow] also hopes Washington will constructively influence [Tbilisi],” it added.

Daniel Fried’s deputy, Mathew Bryza, was visiting these days Moscow. He held talks with officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defense mainly over the situation in Abkhazia.

He said in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant, published on August 4, that resumption of the Abkhaz talks “without preconditions” was urgent and added that format was not as important.