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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU urges Russia to end blockade | EU urges Russia to end blockade |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The EU has urged Russia to lift economic sanctions it imposed on Georgia in the continuing spying row. | The EU has urged Russia to lift economic sanctions it imposed on Georgia in the continuing spying row. |
| External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said each side should be careful not to provoke the other. | External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said each side should be careful not to provoke the other. |
| Russia has cut off all transport and postal links with Georgia, despite the release of four Russian officers accused by Tbilisi of spying. | Russia has cut off all transport and postal links with Georgia, despite the release of four Russian officers accused by Tbilisi of spying. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow did not intend to lift the sanctions in the near future. | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow did not intend to lift the sanctions in the near future. |
| Moscow denies the spying charge, while Georgia has accused it of bullying. | Moscow denies the spying charge, while Georgia has accused it of bullying. |
| Restraint calls | Restraint calls |
| "We do hope that Russia very, very soon lifts these sanctions," Ms Ferrero-Waldner told Reuters news agency during a visit to Georgia. | "We do hope that Russia very, very soon lifts these sanctions," Ms Ferrero-Waldner told Reuters news agency during a visit to Georgia. |
| "There are so many irritants again on either side, and therefore it is very important not to provoke and not to be provoked," she said. | "There are so many irritants again on either side, and therefore it is very important not to provoke and not to be provoked," she said. |
| The message to our great neighbour Russia is: 'Enough is enough' Mikhail SaakashviliGeorgian president Russia's Georgians worried Q&A: Russian-Georgian ties href="/1/hi/world/europe/5403714.stm" class="">High stakes for Georgia | |
| Her comments came a day after the US urged Moscow and Georgia to "lower the rhetoric" over the spy row. | Her comments came a day after the US urged Moscow and Georgia to "lower the rhetoric" over the spy row. |
| Asked on Tuesday if the sanctions might soon be lifted, Mr Lavrov said: "Not for the time being. | Asked on Tuesday if the sanctions might soon be lifted, Mr Lavrov said: "Not for the time being. |
| "All measures limiting transport and postal links are aimed at stopping illegal money flows from Georgia into Russia." | "All measures limiting transport and postal links are aimed at stopping illegal money flows from Georgia into Russia." |
| The impact of the new measures is likely to be severe, BBC regional analyst Steven Eke says. | The impact of the new measures is likely to be severe, BBC regional analyst Steven Eke says. |
| He says thousands of Georgian workers will be effectively stranded in Russia, unable to send home the earnings so many of their families depend on. | He says thousands of Georgian workers will be effectively stranded in Russia, unable to send home the earnings so many of their families depend on. |
| Fears have also been expressed about Georgia's reliance on Russian energy supplies. | Fears have also been expressed about Georgia's reliance on Russian energy supplies. |
| Georgia remains totally dependent on supplies of Russian gas, and there are already warnings that heat and light could disappear from parts of Georgia unless the crisis is resolved quickly. | Georgia remains totally dependent on supplies of Russian gas, and there are already warnings that heat and light could disappear from parts of Georgia unless the crisis is resolved quickly. |
| But Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said his country would survive the Russian pressure as it always had. | But Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said his country would survive the Russian pressure as it always had. |
| 'Goodwill gesture' | 'Goodwill gesture' |
| It is unclear if the sanctions decision was taken before the release of the Russian officers was announced by Georgia on Monday. | It is unclear if the sanctions decision was taken before the release of the Russian officers was announced by Georgia on Monday. |
| The Russians were accused of spying on military installations | The Russians were accused of spying on military installations |
| The officers were handed over to officials from the Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe and later then were flown to Moscow. | The officers were handed over to officials from the Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe and later then were flown to Moscow. |
| They were personally welcomed by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, who thanked them for their "courage and the honour, characteristic of Russian officers", Interfax news agency reported. | They were personally welcomed by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, who thanked them for their "courage and the honour, characteristic of Russian officers", Interfax news agency reported. |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said the transfer was a goodwill gesture, not a response to Russian pressure. | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said the transfer was a goodwill gesture, not a response to Russian pressure. |
| Mr Saakashvili said he wanted good relations with Russia, but added that Georgia could no longer be treated as a "the second-class backyard of... some kind of re-emerging empire". | Mr Saakashvili said he wanted good relations with Russia, but added that Georgia could no longer be treated as a "the second-class backyard of... some kind of re-emerging empire". |
| He insisted that the men - who were charged with spying last week - had been organising a spying network. | He insisted that the men - who were charged with spying last week - had been organising a spying network. |
| In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Georgia of "state terrorism". | In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Georgia of "state terrorism". |
| Mr Putin said Tbilisi had been trying to provoke Moscow. | Mr Putin said Tbilisi had been trying to provoke Moscow. |
| Tense relations | Tense relations |
| Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply since Georgia and Nato agreed to hold talks on closer relations. | Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply since Georgia and Nato agreed to hold talks on closer relations. |
| Georgia has also accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. | Georgia has also accused Russia of actively trying to undermine its government by backing separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |
| Moscow earlier recalled its ambassador and evacuated some of its staff in Georgia. | Moscow earlier recalled its ambassador and evacuated some of its staff in Georgia. |
| Our regional analyst notes that Georgia is already affected by a Russian ban on its top three agricultural exports - wine, mineral water and mandarin oranges. | Our regional analyst notes that Georgia is already affected by a Russian ban on its top three agricultural exports - wine, mineral water and mandarin oranges. |