Russia's EU ambassador hits back at Georgia 'misconceptions'

Top Russian and Georgian officials have clashed bitterly over the crisis in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions recognised by Moscow as independent last week.

Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Georgian minister for reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili accused Moscow of trying to “redraw” the borders of eastern Europe.

Yakobashvili, who was directly involved in diplomatic negotiations in the run-up to the outbreak of hostilities last month, also said Russia had pre-planned military intervention in his country and criticised the international community for failing to heed warnings about rising tensions in the region.

His comments were rebuffed by Vladimir Chizov, Russia’s ambassador to the EU, who said Moscow had been forced to take action by Georgia’s “blatant aggression” and “massacre” by the Georgian army.

He also countered the “many misconceptions” surrounding Russia’s actions, saying, “The picture painted by Mr Yakobashvili is impressive. There is just one deficiency – it is not true.

“One of the misconceptions is that Russia planned this all along, but that is false. On the contrary, Russia tried to prevent a rapid escalation of the conflict with Georgia by calming tensions and promoting political dialogue.

“It has also been said that it was Russia’s intention to annex South Ossetia and Abkhazia but, again, this is a misconception.”

He said Moscow had repeatedly warned the EU and US that a “trigger-happy” Georgian leadership would try to resolve the situation in the two breakaway regions by force.

Both were speaking at a debate organised by the German Marshall Fund of the United States on the war in Georgia and future relations with Russia.

Speaking at the same event, Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, whose government called for the emergency summit on Russia in Brussels on Monday, issued a stark warning to Moscow saying its military action had set it on a “very difficult and risky path”.

He added, “Russia seems to be in a very strange mood at present, but this self-assertiveness and isolationism is not conducive to its ambitions of closer integration with the west.”

He said it was up to others to determine who was to blame for the current crisis but pointed out he had warned Georgian leaders against allowing themselves to be provoked by Russia.

Matthew Bryza, deputy American assistant secretary of state for EU affairs, said the US had also warned against military action being taken to resolve the conflict.

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