MOSCOW, Oct 21: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Russia and Georgia on Saturday to reduce tension between their countries and said provocative actions in two separatist Georgian regions could get out of control.
“We are asking the Georgians and the Russians to do everything they can to de-escalate the tensions,” Dr Rice told reporters travelling with her from Beijing to Moscow.
Dr Rice, in Russia for a one-day visit, expressed deep concern over persistent tensions between Tbilisi and Moscow and especially the so-called ‘frozen conflicts’ of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“I think we have been clear with both sides that cooler heads need to prevail here,” said Rice, pledging to discuss the crisis with President Vladimir Putin.
The latest crisis between the two former Soviet states stemmed from Georgia’s brief detention of four Russian servicemen on suspicion of espionage.
They were released after international mediation, but Russia cut sea, air, rail and postal links and ordered the deportation of hundreds of Georgians it says are illegal immigrants.
Mr Putin on Friday told European Union leaders in Finland that Georgia was risking bloodshed by seeking to regain control over the regions by military means.
Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuasvhili immediately denied his country had any intention to use force.
The leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which broke away from Georgian control more than a decade ago, said on Saturday they had no wish to find an accommodation with Tbilisi.
Neither region is recognised as independent by any state.
SEPARATISTS REJECT LINKS: Eduard Kokoity, self-styled president of mountainous South Ossetia, said remaining part of a Georgian state “poses the threat of genocide to our people”, Interfax news agency said.
Sergei Bagapsh, leader of Abkhazia on the Black Sea coast, said his region “had made its choice and is most unlikely ever to change it”.
Dr Rice said she would voice her fears about a resort to force.
“The rhetoric really needs to be lowered,” she said. “I would be especially concerned that there would be no rhetoric which might encourage activity — military, provocative activity — in the frozen conflicts of Abkhazia or South Ossetia.”
She added: “I think that’s (military action) the kind of problem that could get out of control. I will talk to the Russians about that problem.”
Dr Rice also said she would raise the issue of murdered investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, a fierce critic of Putin. Rice will give an interview to the slain reporter’s newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, later on Saturday.
Dr Rice said she would seek more details about a new Russian law requiring foreign non-governmental organisations to re-register with the government.
“In some cases it is being implemented in ways that is making it difficult for NGOs to operate and so I think we have to go over that,” said Rice.
Several aid groups suspended work this week after failing to meet an Oct 18 deadline set by the law they say allows the Kremlin to intrude on their work.
The law requires foreign NGOs to produce endless documents and information before a federal agency decides whether to approve them. Russia says the law is aimed at fighting terrorism and stopping foreign spies using NGOs as cover. —Reuters
