Russia calls for more observers in Georgia

MOSCOW: Russia called on Saturday for more international observers to be sent to Georgia, two days before a European Union summit that Tbilisi hopes will punish Moscow with sanctions. The appeal for stronger European monitoring in Georgia came as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urged EU leaders to show "common sense" at the summit on Monday and ignore calls for sanctions against Russia. Leaders of the 27-nation EU are to agree on a response to Russia's military surge into Georgia and decision to recognise the independence of two secessionist regions. Georgia called for sanctions on Russian leaders after breaking off diplomatic relations with Moscow to protest the decision to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But in an apparent conciliatory gesture, President Dmitry Medvedev told British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a phone conversation that Russia wants more OSCE observers to be sent to Georgia, a Kremlin statement said. The West sees the presence of monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe as critical to ensure the success of the French-brokered ceasefire that ended five days of fighting between Georgian and Russian forces. The 56-nation OSCE decided this month to send up to 100 observers to Georgia. Some 20 observers are currently on the ground. Russia "calls for the dispatch of additional OSCE observers to the security zone and setting up an impartial monitoring of the acts of the Georgian government," said the Kremlin statement. The German weekly Der Spiegel separately reported that OSCE observers were blaming Georgia -- whose bid to join NATO is championed by the United States -- for triggering the crisis in a series of unofficial reports presented to the German government. OSCE monitors said Georgia had made elaborate preparations for the offensive in South Ossetia on August 7. Tbilisi has claimed that they were provoked by the Russian side. Russian troops entered Georgia on August 8 to push back Georgian troops attempting to restore control over South Ossetia. Russia halted a five-day offensive into Georgia but has failed to withdraw all its troops, saying they are on a peacekeeping mission. Tbilisi has labelled them an occupation force. Medvedev reiterated that Russia was "in full compliance with the six principles" of a ceasefire deal, despite calls from the West for further withdrawals. Putin said Russian troops "of course will leave these positions where we are now... We will not remain there forever".
source:TOI