EU concerned over Russian buildup of troops in Abkhazia

2008-05-07 22:29:08 -

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Union expressed concern Wednesday over the increase in the number of Russian troops in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia.
The EU urged Russia to respect Georgia's borders and called on both nations to peacefully resolve their differences.
Russia has long backed Abkhazia and its ambition for independence from Georgia. It has enlarged its peacekeeping contingent in the region over the last month.
«The EU is very concerned over the recent events that have increased tensions. We are particularly concerned about the increasing number of (Russian) peacekeepers in Abkhazia,» Slovenia's State Secretary for European Affairs Janez Lenarcic told the European Parliament. He spoke on behalf of the EU.
Russia has responded to Georgia's push for closer ties with NATO and to Kosovo's Western-backed independence declaration by stepping up support for Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The two regions have had de-facto independence since breaking away from central government control in early 1990s wars.
Russia has not recognized the two regions' long-standing independence claims. Recognition would badly damage ties with the West and could spark war with Georgia.
But Moscow has granted Russian passports to the majority of people in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and warned Georgia that it will defend its citizens if they are attacked.
Last month it established legal ties with Abkhazia, which Georgia said was a step toward annexation of the region.
Russia has augmented its peacekeeping force in Abkhazia, although the Defense Ministry hasn't said specifically how many troops were being sent. Georgia accuses the troops of siding with the separatists.
Late Tuesday, Georgia's deputy prime minister Georgi Baramidze asked for EU support in his country's dispute with Russia.
He demanded an independent EU investigation into the shooting down on April 20 of an unmanned Georgian spy plan as it flew over Abkhazia, which Georgia blames on Russia.