Russia: Kiss South Ossetia goodbye!

Edward Kokojti, President of South Ossetia

Thu, 14 Aug 2008

Russia hints that Georgia's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia cannot be forced to be part of the country. "One can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state,'' Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

The remarks were made amid allegations by the Georgian Foreign Ministry that more Russian troops have moved into the city of Gori. Nato Chikovani, the ministry spokesman, also claimed that Russian troops had moved into the Black Sea port city of Poti.

On Thursday morning, Georgia's Interior Ministry said that Russian troops had begun withdrawing from Gori and Poti. Georgia's military action to retake control of South Ossetia triggered a harsh response from Russia. Ties between the two neighboring states have already been strained over several issues, including Tbilisi's NATO membership bid. Russia's military intervention in South Ossetia is considered as a signal by Moscow that it will not tolerate NATO forces in its backyard. (Source)