G7 slaps Russia over Georgia aggression

Scotsman:

THE G7 group of leading industrialised nations last night issued a stinging condemnation of Russia's decision to recognise Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"We, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom, condemn the action," the group said, in what the UK Foreign Office described as an "unprecedented step".

"We deplore Russia's excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia.

"We call unanimously on the Russian government to implement in full the six-point peace plan brokered by President Sarkozy on behalf of the EU, in particular to withdraw its forces behind the pre-conflict lines."

The G7 statement came hours after David Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, warned Russia that it must not start a new Cold War.

Speaking during a visit to Ukraine, Mr Miliband said if Russia started a new era of tension, there would be a price to pay.

His speech – made in the eastern European country which wants to join a growing number of Russia's neighbours in signing up to Nato – comes amid escalating tensions with Moscow. As well as the G7 statement, Britain issued its own condemnation of Russia's recognition of Georgia's breakaway regions.

In a reference to an article written by Dmitry Medvedev, Mr Miliband added: "The Russian president says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one. We need to raise the costs to Russia for disregarding its responsibility. We need to re-examine the nature, depth and breadth of relations (with Russia]."

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There is more. The tone of the condemnation has certainly ratcheted up. I think Medvedev is not in a position to respond as he should. I think Putin still has a tight grip on the reins for now. It will probably takes some expressions of pain by the oligarchs to change opinions inside the Kremlin.