GERMANY PRESSES RUSSIA TO LEAVE GEORGIA
By Michael Fischer
Associated Press Worldstream
August 24, 2008 Sunday 4:51 PM GMT
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Enhanced Coverage LinkingAngela Merkel -Search using:
Biographies Plus News
News, Most Recent 60 Days called Sunday for Russian troops to complete
their pullout of Georgia, saying Moscow’s credibility "is at stake."
Speaking to German broadcaster ZDF, Merkel raised the possibility the
European Union would call a special summit to address the situation
in the Caucuses, saying France which currently holds the EU’s rotating
presidency would take up the issue in the coming days.
"Russia has not yet fulfilled its commitment to the six-point peace
plan," Merkel said, urging Moscow to uphold its end of the deal.
"Russia’s credibility is at stake," Merkel said.
Under the plan, promoted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and
signed last week by Russia and Georgia, both sides must move back
to positions they held before fighting broke out Aug. 7 in Georgia’s
South Ossetia region, which has close ties to Russia.
Russia pulled the bulk of its troops and tanks from its small southern
neighbor Friday after a brief but intense war, but the U.S. and
its European allies have criticized Moscow for leaving some troops
in Georgia and performing military operations despite agreeing to
a cease-fire.
Merkel also has suggested the EU could sponsor a conference with
Georgia and its immediate neighbors, including Azerbidjan, Armenia
and Ukraine, to encourage efforts to rebuild damaged infrastructure
in Georgia.
Russia would not participate in such a conference, she said.
Also Sunday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke
by telephone with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to insist
Moscow uphold its end of the EU-brokered cease-fire agreement.
Germany’s Foreign Ministry said the two also agreed that 20 extra
unarmed observers would be sent to monitor the situation in Georgia
near the separatist region of South Ossetia.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe agreed last
week to immediately send 20 additional unarmed military monitors to
join its 200-person mission in Georgia.
Merkel departs Monday for a two-day trip to Sweden, Estonia and
Lithuania, in an effort to promote continued dialogue with Moscow.