US tells Russia to leave South Caucasus

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=133559§ionid=351020406



US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has criticized Russia for establishing military bases in Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

At a joint press conference with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi on Monday, she urged Moscow to abide by the ceasefire agreement with Tbilisi and to end its military presence in the country.

"We continue to call for Russia to abide by the August 2008 ceasefire commitment… including by ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions," AFP quoted her as saying.

"The United States is steadfast in its commitment to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added.

Georgia was the final stop of Clinton's five-day tour of the region.

Political analysts have been quick to point out that Moscow views many of Clinton's recent remarks as meddling in the affairs of a region Russia calls its near abroad.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief but destructive war in 2008 following Tbilisi's assault on South Ossetia.

After the war, Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

Russia also built permanent military bases in the breakaway regions and stationed hundreds of soldiers and border guards in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.