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UK urges tough response to Russia UK urges tough response to Russia
(20 minutes later)
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on the EU and Nato to initiate "hard-headed engagement" with Russia in response to its actions in Georgia.UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on the EU and Nato to initiate "hard-headed engagement" with Russia in response to its actions in Georgia.
In a speech in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, he urged them to bolster their allies, re-balance the energy relationship with Russia and defend international law.In a speech in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, he urged them to bolster their allies, re-balance the energy relationship with Russia and defend international law.
Mr Miliband's visit came a day after Russia recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions.Mr Miliband's visit came a day after Russia recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions.
Earlier, Ukraine's president said it was a hostage in a war waged by Russia.Earlier, Ukraine's president said it was a hostage in a war waged by Russia.
Victor Yushchenko told Mr Miliband that the brief conflict between Georgia and Russia earlier this month had exposed serious weaknesses in the powers of the UN and other international bodies.Victor Yushchenko told Mr Miliband that the brief conflict between Georgia and Russia earlier this month had exposed serious weaknesses in the powers of the UN and other international bodies.
The most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Meeting Russia's 'Number One' Press reacts to Russia-West splitJubilation and dismay in GeorgiaThe most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Meeting Russia's 'Number One' Press reacts to Russia-West splitJubilation and dismay in Georgia
He called for Ukraine's defences to be strengthened and said his country would consider increasing the amount of money Russia pays for the lease of the port of Sevastopol, where it stations its Black Sea Fleet.He called for Ukraine's defences to be strengthened and said his country would consider increasing the amount of money Russia pays for the lease of the port of Sevastopol, where it stations its Black Sea Fleet.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake its Russian-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia by force.Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake its Russian-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia by force.
Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia and an EU-brokered ceasefire.Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia and an EU-brokered ceasefire.
'Old sores and divisions' Russia 'unreconciled'
After holding talks with President Yushchenko and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Ohryzko, Mr Miliband told a group of students in Kiev that the Georgia crisis had "provided a rude awakening". After holding talks with President Yushchenko, Mr Miliband told a group of students in Kiev that the Georgia crisis had "provided a rude awakening".
"The sight of Russian tanks in a neighbouring country on the 40th anniversary of the crushing of the Prague Spring has shown that the temptations of power politics remain," he said. The Russian president... has a big responsibility not to start [a new Cold War] David MilibandUK Foreign Secretary
The Russian President says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one David MilibandUK Foreign Secretary "Russia is not yet reconciled to the new map of this region," he said.
"The old sores and divisions fester. And Russia is not yet reconciled to the new map of this region." The Russian president's "unilateral attempt to redraw the map marks a moment of real significance", he added.
Mr Miliband said the Russian president's "unilateral attempt to redraw the map marks a moment of real significance". "The Russian president says he is not afraid of a new Cold War," he said.
"It is not just the end of the post-Cold War period of growing geopolitical calm in and around Europe," he continued. "We don't want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one."
"It is also the moment when countries are required to set out where they stand on the significant issues of nationhood and international law.
"The Russian president says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one."
The foreign secretary said the response of the EU and Nato to such "aggression" should be one of "hard-headed engagement".The foreign secretary said the response of the EU and Nato to such "aggression" should be one of "hard-headed engagement".
"That means bolstering our allies, rebalancing the energy relationship with Russia, defending the rules of international institutions, and renewing efforts to tackle 'unresolved conflicts'," he explained.
"Second, we must re-balance the energy relationship between Russia and Europe."
SOUTH OSSETIA & ABKHAZIA South Ossetia Population: About 70,000 (before recent conflict)Capital: TskhinvaliPresident: Eduard Kokoity Abkhazia Population: About 250,000 (2003)Capital: SukhumiPresident: Sergei Bagapsh Profile: South OssetiaProfile: AbkhaziaQ&A: Conflict in GeorgiaSOUTH OSSETIA & ABKHAZIA South Ossetia Population: About 70,000 (before recent conflict)Capital: TskhinvaliPresident: Eduard Kokoity Abkhazia Population: About 250,000 (2003)Capital: SukhumiPresident: Sergei Bagapsh Profile: South OssetiaProfile: AbkhaziaQ&A: Conflict in Georgia
He said the two blocs' member states needed to guarantee diverse, secure and resilient gas supplies by investing in gas storage facilities in order to deal with interruptions with the supply from Russia and its allies; to build a more effective internal market; and to become less dependent on gas altogether. "That means bolstering our allies, rebalancing the energy relationship with Russia, defending the rules of international institutions, and renewing efforts to tackle 'unresolved conflicts'," he explained.
"Europe needs to act as one when dealing with third parties like Russia," he urged. "Europe needs to act as one when dealing with third parties like Russia," he said.
Mr Miliband again rejected calls for Russia to be expelled from the G8, but did suggest the EU and Nato needed to "examine the nature, depth and breadth of relations with Russia". Mr Miliband again rejected calls for Russia to be expelled from the G8, but did suggest the EU and Nato needed to review relations with Russia.
He also reiterated that the British government supported Ukraine's application for full Nato membership, to which Russia and many Ukrainians are opposed. He also reiterated the British government's support for Ukraine's application for full Nato membership, to which Russia and many Ukrainians are opposed.
Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Moscow's next objectives could be Russian-speaking regions in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Moldova.Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Moscow's next objectives could be Russian-speaking regions in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Moldova.
In Ukraine's southern province of Crimea, the majority ethnic Russians have been protesting against Kiev's push to join Nato and to end the presence of Russia's Black Sea naval fleet. Preventing 'catastrophe'
The Russian president has also warned Moldova against repeating what he called Georgia's mistake of trying to use force to seize back control of its breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, where Russia has kept a significant military presence.
Cold War
On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow had been obliged to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia following the "genocide" started by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in South Ossetia in August.On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow had been obliged to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia following the "genocide" started by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in South Ossetia in August.
HAVE YOUR SAYMiliband should keep his nose out of it unless he wants it bloodied by the Russians Di, LondonSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYMiliband should keep his nose out of it unless he wants it bloodied by the Russians Di, LondonSend us your comments
"The most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible, because most of them they are Russian citizens," he told the BBC's Bridget Kendall in an exclusive interview in the Russian town of Sochi. "The most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe..." he told the BBC in an interview in the Russian city of Sochi.
"So we had to take a decision recognising the two states as independent.""So we had to take a decision recognising the two states as independent."
He said a new Cold War could not be ruled out, but that his country did not want one.He said a new Cold War could not be ruled out, but that his country did not want one.
"There are no winners in a Cold War," he said."There are no winners in a Cold War," he said.
Georgia said Russia was seeking to "change Europe's borders by force".Georgia said Russia was seeking to "change Europe's borders by force".
Most of Russia's forces pulled out of the rest of Georgia last Friday but it maintains a presence both within the two rebel regions and in buffer zones imposed round their boundaries.Most of Russia's forces pulled out of the rest of Georgia last Friday but it maintains a presence both within the two rebel regions and in buffer zones imposed round their boundaries.
Mr Medvedev has blamed Georgia for failing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the crisis.Mr Medvedev has blamed Georgia for failing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the crisis.