23:04, 26 October 2006

NATO General Secretary comes out for removal of Russian sanctions from Georgia

The sanctions imposed by Russia on Georgia should be removed, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO General Secretary, told journalists today, the correspondent of the "Rosbalt" reports.

"It's crucially important for Moscow and Tbilisi to settle down the conflict through de-escalation, on the basis of a peaceful approach," NATO General Secretary said.

Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also stressed that the intensive dialogue of NATO with Georgia and the interrelations of Russia with the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization have no connection with each other. "The fact that we are running now an intensive dialogue with Georgia - it was NATO's decision, and it means only what it means. I stress again that our contacts with Georgia have nothing to do with the relations of this country with Russia," the General Secretary noted.