Cameron launches new attack on Russia

President Dmitry Medvedev calling for South Ossetian independence yesterday

Wednesday, 27, Aug 2008 05:52

Tory leader David Cameron has spoken out against Russian intransigence in the face of international condemnation.

"We've got to confront this aggression," Mr Cameron said.

Speaking about Russian recognition of the independence of Georgian breakaway provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Mr Cameron continued: "It goes completely against a set of United Nations resolutions that they themselves voted for."

Mr Cameron called on talks on an EU-Russian strategic partnership to be suspended and for negotiations on a Georgia-EU free trade agreement to be sped up.

Saying the Russian response was "wholly disproportionate", Mr Cameron even suggested Russia had orchestrated events in the South Caucasus, which began when Georgia shelled South Ossetia.

"There was a series of provocations… so the Russians could do probably what they wanted to do," Mr Cameron told the BBC.

The move comes as foreign secretary David Miliband visits Ukraine seeking to build an international "coalition" against Russia's actions in Georgia.

Yesterday, Russia announced it would recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, angering the Foreign Office and other members of the international community.

Mr Miliband responded by saying he would seek the "widest possible coalition against Russian aggression in Georgia".

He has met the Ukrainian president, Viktor Yushchenko, as well as his prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and foreign minister Vladimir Ogryzko.

In a speech, Mr Miliband said Russia had a responsibility not to start a new Cold War.

Speaking in Ukraine's capital Kiev, Mr Miliband said Moscow had to avoid the "temptations of power politics" in its dealings with Georgia.

Mr Miliband said recent events mark the end of a period of "growing geopolitical calm in and around Europe" and means countries have to lay out where they stand on international law.

He told Russia it can expect "economic and political losses" as a result of its short-term military gains and that, with "underinvestment and inequality rampant", it cannot afford to "live in isolation in a globalised world".

Mr Miliband confirmed he does not advocate isolating Russia from the world but instead prefers "hard-headed engagement".

He said Britain would be willing to help Ukraine to eventual membership of the European Union in addition to joining Nato, backing its commitment to democracy in recent years.

The Ukrainians have a tense relationship with Russia at present thanks to the presence of Russia's Black Sea fleet in the Crimea, which has been used in operations against Georgia in the recent conflict. Its lease expires in 2017.

Mr Yushchenko's links with Britain are strong at present after a successful visit to London earlier this year, in which he courted British support for Ukrainian entry into Nato.

And with Britain being a vociferous supporter of a more confrontational policy with Russia than other European countries like France and Germany, today's visit is likely to continue harmonious relations.

Mr Miliband described Russia's decision to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia as "unjustifiable and unacceptable".

He criticised it for not taking into account the views of thousands of people forced to abandon their homes in the two territories and for not adhering to the principles of the peace agreement.

"We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow," Mr Miliband said.

"We again call on Russia to abide by international law as the basis for resolving this crisis; and to implement urgently and in full Russia's commitments to withdraw forces from Georgia to pre-August 7th positions."