AI
Friday, September 10, 2004 3:21:31 PM
Georgia slams Russia for Abkhazia rail resumption
10 Sep 2004 12:46:45 GMT
Translated: Putin to Bush – “Screw you, slayer of children.”
Source: Reuters
TBILISI, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Georgia strongly criticised Russia on Friday for resuming direct railway traffic with its separatist province of Abkhazia, saying it was an attempt by Moscow to "annex" the Black Sea region. The first train left the Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi for Moscow on Friday after an armed conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia in the early 1990s interrupted the Soviet-era link.
"This (the resumption) is tantamount to Russia's annexing of Abkhazia," said Temur Mzhavia, the head of Abkhazia's pro-Georgian Supreme Council, in exile in Tbilisi.
Relations between Georgia and Russia have been tense in recent weeks. Tbilisi claims Moscow backs two separatist regions that President Mikhail Saakashvili, elected in January on promises to restore Georgia's unity, wishes to rein in.
Russia says Georgia's bellicose stance risks triggering a full-scale war in the region where Moscow itself is fighting rebels in Georgia's neighbour Chechnya.
Georgia's State Minister for Conflicts Goga Khaindrava said the new rail link threatened Georgia's sovereignty.
"This is a violation of all international norms and agreements...This is a violation of (Georgia's) sovereignty," he told reporters.
Russia says the rail link is key to boosting trade with Georgia and other Caucasus states. But it has little value for regional oil exports which mainly go through the port of Batumi in the once-restive region of Adzhara taken over by Tbilisi in May.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10520682.htm
10 Sep 2004 12:46:45 GMT
Translated: Putin to Bush – “Screw you, slayer of children.”
Source: Reuters
TBILISI, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Georgia strongly criticised Russia on Friday for resuming direct railway traffic with its separatist province of Abkhazia, saying it was an attempt by Moscow to "annex" the Black Sea region. The first train left the Abkhaz capital of Sukhumi for Moscow on Friday after an armed conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia in the early 1990s interrupted the Soviet-era link.
"This (the resumption) is tantamount to Russia's annexing of Abkhazia," said Temur Mzhavia, the head of Abkhazia's pro-Georgian Supreme Council, in exile in Tbilisi.
Relations between Georgia and Russia have been tense in recent weeks. Tbilisi claims Moscow backs two separatist regions that President Mikhail Saakashvili, elected in January on promises to restore Georgia's unity, wishes to rein in.
Russia says Georgia's bellicose stance risks triggering a full-scale war in the region where Moscow itself is fighting rebels in Georgia's neighbour Chechnya.
Georgia's State Minister for Conflicts Goga Khaindrava said the new rail link threatened Georgia's sovereignty.
"This is a violation of all international norms and agreements...This is a violation of (Georgia's) sovereignty," he told reporters.
Russia says the rail link is key to boosting trade with Georgia and other Caucasus states. But it has little value for regional oil exports which mainly go through the port of Batumi in the once-restive region of Adzhara taken over by Tbilisi in May.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10520682.htm
Discover What Traders Are Watching
Explore small cap ideas before they hit the headlines.
