Xinhua, China
Sept 5 2008

Medvedev says Moscow backed by CSTO over Russian-Georgian conflict

2008-09-06 03:18:39

MOSCOW, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) — Leaders of the members of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) condemned Georgia over
its actions in South Ossetia and backed Moscow’s role in the recent
conflict, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.

"Our partners in the organization have made an unequivocally
negative assessment of Georgia’s actions, Georgia’s aggression in
South Ossetia, and supported Russia’s active role, highlighting the
need to ensure lasting security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia,"
Medvedev said at a press conference after the CSTO summit in Moscow.

The CSTO member states "are deeply concerned by Georgia’s attempt
to resolve the conflict in South Ossetia through the use of force,"
which led to "numerous casualties among noncombatants and
peacekeepers," he was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency assaying.

On the recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
the Russian president said the CSTO countries will make their own
decisions in line with the basis of international law, but they will
also be guided by national interests.

Georgia sent in troops to reclaim its breakaway region of South
Ossetia on Aug. 8, triggering a military counter-offensive by
Russia. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement between Tbilisi
and Moscow brokered by France.

Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the other
breakaway region of Georgia, as independent states last week further
strained its relations with the former Soviet republic.

The CSTO is a security grouping comprising Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The next
CSTO summit will be held in Moscow in the second quarter of 2009. ã