23 August 2008, 17:02
UK, France and USA doubt of complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia
France and Great Britain have supported the US viewpoint about incomplete withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia.
We remind you that in the evening on August 22 Russian Minister of Defence Anatoly Serdyukov reported to the Supreme Commander - President of Russia that the withdrawal of Russian military units, which had been attached to the peacekeeping contingent, of which Dmitri Medvedev stated on August 17, was over.
Head of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs David Milliband has expressed doubts that Russia has really completed the withdrawal of its troops from Georgia. Having reminded that the withdrawal of troops is one of the principles for settling the conflicts in Georgia, elaborated under mediation of French President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Milliband stated in the evening on Friday, August 22: "Today's messages about withdrawal of Russian troops look like another step towards fulfilment of these obligations."
"However, I'm still concerned that Russian militaries, contrary to the agreement, haven't yet returned to the positions they occupied on August 7th," said the Minister, as the RIA "Novosti" reports.
Reporting about the White House's position, the Reuters add that France has supported the US' viewpoint as to incomplete withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. Georges Bush and Nicolas Sarkozy have discussed the situation in the conflict zone and agreed that "Russia fails to fulfil the requirements, and it should do it immediately," as the press secretary of the White House Gordon Jondro has stated.
