TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

NATO Tells Russia To Leave Georgia

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: September 16, 2008

TBILISI, Georgia - Diplomats from every NATO nation demanded immediate Russian withdrawal from Georgia in a show of support from the U.S. ally's capital on Monday that made no promise of faster membership in the alliance.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer led 26 envoys in calling on Moscow to comply with a cease-fire deal and withdraw to positions its forces held before fighting with Georgia erupted Aug. 7.

But the diplomats offered no positive response to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's call to "accelerate" Georgia's integration into NATO. Saakashvili said Russia's invasion should not keep Georgia out of its "proper and rightful home" in the alliance.

NATO decided in April not to offer Georgia the first step toward membership, while assuring the country that it would eventually join.
De Hoop Scheffer said those decisions stand.

He offered no timetable, saying Monday's visit would help "assess how to further enhance the NATO-Georgia partnership." Georgia, where thousands of Russian troops are deployed, must move forward with democratic reforms despite the difficulties caused by the war, he stressed.

As diplomats arrived in Tbilisi, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned the West it would be "senseless" to pressure the Kremlin with sanctions. He also dismissed calls by some Western diplomats to prevent Russia from joining the World Trade Organization.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT