Europe News

British Defence Secretary: European-US delegation to go to Georgia

Aug 9, 2008, 16:50 GMT

London/Stockholm - A combined European Union, US and NATO delegation is to travel to Georgia to try to broker a ceasefire in the fighting between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Britain's Defence Secretary said Saturday. Des Browne told Sky News that the delegation, which will also include representatives of OSCE, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, will go to the Caucasus republic on Saturday evening. 'We need an immediate ceasefire, we will call both sides to exercise restraint,' said the minister. Meanwhile the foreign ministers of Europe are likely to discuss the Russia-Georgia issue at an informal meeting in Paris on Monday, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Saturday in Stockholm. Bildt told the TT news agency that he expected a 'very strong reaction' from the EU. A vote on the issue might be held at a formal meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels later in the week, Bildt said. In a statement released by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Saturday Bildt described the Russian miliary operation as 'an act of aggression that is incompatible with international law and fundamental principles of security and cooperation in Europe.' He called for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the establishment of political contacts to bring about a peaceful solution to the crisis.

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British Defence Secretary: European-US delegation to go to Georgia

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