Georgia: Russian Withdrawal?

The BBC reports that as NATO holds an emergency session to discuss the defacto invasion of the Republic of Georgia by Russia, Moscow has finally started to pull out some of its tanks and armored personnel carriers from the town of Gori. Even so, it remains to be seen whether the move by Russia is a full withdrawal of all its military forces.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said Nato ministers agreed Russia had broken international law in its conflict with Georgia.

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A column of Russian tanks has been seen pulling out of the town of Gori.

Mr Miliband, who left the Nato meeting early to fly to Tbilisi, said the outcome showed real Nato unity: “The Nato membership was clear that Russia had violated international laws as well as the rules of the international game.”

Russia had to abide by the ceasefire agreement and withdraw its troops from Georgian soil, he said. The alliance was set to offer new practical and political support for the government in Tbilisi, and Georgia would be given a clear route map to Nato membership, he said.

Russia’s refusal to withdraw its forces ahead of this meeting had been a big unifying force within the alliance, he added.

Photo: Russian BTR80, Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008