Tbilisi/Moscow - EU ministers in Tbilisi on Monday
reaffirmed support for Georgia's 'territorial integrity' amid fears
that growing hostilities with Russian-backed separatists regions
could lead to open conflict.
'The European Union reiterates its support for Georgia's
sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within the
internationally recognized borders,' Slovenia's Foreign Minister
Dmitrij Rupel, whose country currently chairs the EU presidency, was
quoted by Itar-tass as saying Monday.
The foreign ministers of five European states - Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland, Sweden and Slovenia - were in the Georgian capital Monday to
probe into escalating tension between Moscow and Tbilisi over
Russia's support for the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili pleaded for the EU and
NATO's support against what it called Russia efforts to annex part of
its territory since Moscow strengthened diplomatic and economic ties
to the area last month.
Saakashvili said Europe had abandoned Georgia to the Soviet Union
once in 1921 and he 'hoped that Europe will not for history to repeat
itself in the same tragedy.'
'It is not only a question for Georgia, but for the future of
Europe as well,' he said.
The United States and the EU have become increasingly embroiled in
Georgia and Russia's dispute as the two found a platform in NATO in
which to trade mutual accusations of troop increases.
Saakashvili warned Thursday that the situation was 'very close' to
war, but assured EU leaders on Monday that he was intent on brokering
a peaceful solution.
But the comments Monday was overshadowed as Abkhaz rebels claimed
to have shot two more Georgian spy planes. The drones would be the
sixth shot down over Abkhazia in recent weeks.
Tbilisi meanwhile denied that any of its spy planes had been shot
down Monday.
The latest Russo-Georgian military accusations first exploded
when Tbilisi attributed the loss of its first spy plane to the work
of a Russian fighter jet.
Moscow denied involvement and said the flights broke UN a
ceasefire that ended the civil war in 1994.
Relations have reached a standoff since Russia's subsequent
declaration that it would increase peacekeeping troops in the region
and was ready to intervene to protect Abkhaz citizen's, most of whom
hold Russian passports.
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