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Russia: Georgia can 'forget' regaining provinces

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-15 10:24

Tbilisi - The foreign minister of Russia said Thursday that Georgia could "forget about" getting back Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the country remained on edge as Russia sent tank columns to search out and destroy Georgian military equipment.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (2nd L) meets the leaders of Sergei Bagapsh of Abkhazia (C) and Eduard Kokoity of South Ossetia in the Kremlin in Moscow August 14, 2008. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pledged support on Thursday for two regions fighting for independence from Georgia, as Washington demanded that the war-torn country's territorial integrity be respected. [Agencies]

Uncertainty about Russia's intentions and back-and-forth charges clouded the conflict two days after Russia and Georgia signaled acceptance of a French-brokered truce, and a week after Georgia's crackdown on the two provinces drew a Russian military response.

Diplomats focused on finalizing a fragile truce between the two nations and clear the way for Russian withdrawal. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was heading Friday for Georgia to press the president to sign the deal.

Georgian officials accused Russia of sending a column of tanks and other armored vehicles toward Kutaisi, the second-largest city in Georgia, then said the convey stopped about 35 miles out.

"We have no idea what they're doing there, why the movement, where they're going," Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said in a telephone briefing. "One explanation could be they are trying to rattle the civilian population."

The US said a move toward Kutaisi would be a matter of great concern, but two defense officials said the Pentagon did not detect any major movement by Russia troops or tanks. There was no immediate response from Russia itself.

"I think the world should think very carefully about what is going on here," Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said. "We need to stop everything that can be stopped now."

The Russian president met in the Kremlin with the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a clear sign of Moscow's support for the regions. And Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a message that appeared to challenge US President Bush's demand a day earlier that Russia must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

"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."

The White House said Thursday that the US position was unchanged and dismissed Lavrov's remark as bluster. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Russia was in danger of hurting relations with the US "for years to come" but said he did not see "any prospect" for the use of American military force in Georgia.

As the military and diplomatic battles played out, US relief planes swooped into Tbilisi with tons of supplies for the estimated 100,000 people uprooted by the fighting.

US officials said their two planes carried cots, blankets, medicine and surgical supplies -- but the Russians insinuated that the United States, a Georgia ally, might have sent in military aid as well. US officials rejected the claim.

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