3 June/juin 2008	NOTE
	PR/CP(2008) 076

NATO Secretary GeneralÂ’s Statement on the Deployment

of Russian Railway Troops into Georgia

I am concerned by the current deployment of several hundred Russian military personnel into the Georgian region  of Abkhazia, which is contributing to instability in what is already a volatile area.  This deployment of Russian Railroad Forces does not appear to have any legal basis; it is not taking place in the context of the CIS peacekeeping mission, and it is against the express wishes of the Georgian Government.  As such, this deployment is clearly in contravention of GeorgiaÂ’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which NATO strongly supports.  These forces should be withdrawn, and both Russia and Georgia should engage quickly in a high-level and open dialogue to de-escalate tensions.

 

	News and information is routinely placed on the NATO website. This includes audio files, transcripts and high resolution photographs, which are posted as soon as possible after events of media interest. Check the 'What's New' file. Nouvelles et informations sont régulièrement affichées sur le site Web de l'OTAN, sous la forme de fichiers audio, de transcriptions et de photographies destinées à la publication. Elles sont disponibles le plus rapidement possible après les événements présentant un intérêt pour les médias. Cliquer sur "Quoi de neuf?"
		North Atlantic Treaty Organisation  –  Organisation du Traité de lÂ’Atlantique Nord Press & Media  –  Presse & Médias B-1110 Bruxelles Belgique E-mail: press@hq.nato.int  – Tel.: 32 2 707 50 41 – Fax: 32 2 707 50 57 – Internet: www.nato.int