Russia stands for a binding non-use of force deal between Georgia and its former republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and is willing to act as a guarantor, a Russian diplomat said on Thursday.
"The discussion of these issues must take two important aspects into account," Russia's envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Anvar Azimov said at a meeting of the group's Permanent Council.
"First, the agreement should be concluded exclusively within the Tbilisi-Tskhinvali-Sukhumi triangle. Second, Russia could be a guarantor of this deal, but not a party to the agreement," he said.
Azimov criticized demands by the Georgian leadership on the issue.
"Tbilisi's demands that the agreement should be reached between Georgia and Russia are wrong, both from a political and a historical standpoint," the envoy said.
Russia, which recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states after an armed conflict with Georgia in August 2008, has signed numerous military cooperation deals with the republics, including agreements to establish permanent Russian military bases in Gudauta (Abkhazia) and Tskhinval (South Ossetia).
Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia after the conflict and declared Abkhazia and South Ossetia "occupied territories." Tbilisi insists that Russian forces should withdraw from the republics as the ceasefire deal rules out Russian military presence in Georgia.
The United States and its Western allies have repeatedly criticized Russia for its military cooperation with South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the grounds that it contravenes the ceasefire deal.
A new round of talks on the issue was held on June 8 in Geneva. The talks involve Georgia, Russia, the United States, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Washington opposes a binding non-use of force deal between Georgia and its former republics saying that the French-mediated ceasefire agreement signed by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on August 12, 2008, "already establishes the sides' commitment to the non-use of force."
Moscow insists, though, that the existing agreement is not enough to guarantee security in the region.
VIENNA, June 10 (RIA Novosti)
