Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Georgian Deputy FM: Russia Exclusively to Blame Over Latest Tensions

Ia Meurmishvili

   This story originated in [1]VOA's Georgian Service. Nino Dalakishvili
   contributed reporting from the border checkpoint near Chorchana,
   Georgia.

   WASHINGTON -- A senior Georgian official Friday said demands by
   Russian-backed separatists in occupied South Ossetia that Georgia
   remove a police observation tower could cause a "serious confrontation"
   between the breakaway regions and Georgian authorities.

   Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia, in a telephone interview with
   VOA, said Moscow is exclusively to blame for the recent escalation in
   tensions, which follow the Georgian government's construction in recent
   weeks of an observation tower inside Georgian-controlled territory near
   the administrative boundary line between Russian-occupied South Ossetia
   and the rest of Georgia.

   Georgia raised its concerns Friday about the risk of "serious
   confrontation" after Russian-backed separatists in the occupied region
   of South Ossetia demanded Thursday night that Georgian authorities
   remove the observation tower and gave the government until early Friday
   morning to comply.

References

   1. http://www.amerikiskhma.com/

.