A meeting took place on August 20 at the Ministry between State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Grigory Karasin and the heads of the diplomatic missions of Latin American countries accredited in Moscow. The ambassadors were informed in detail about the causes, chronology and consequences of Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia.

Karasin noted that the treacherous attacks of Georgian troops on August 8 on Tskhinval and the Russian peacekeepers stationed there had compelled Russia to use a right to self-defense and carry out the operation to force the Georgian side to peace. This operation is currently over, and the withdrawal of Russian troops has begun.

Russia is firmly committed to the six principles for resolving the situation in the region, agreed on by Presidents Medvedev of the Russian Federation and Sarkozy of France and accepted by Georgia as well as by Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moscow expects Tbilisi to comply with them unconditionally.

The heads of the diplomatic missions were informed about measures taken to eliminate the consequences of the humanitarian catastrophe. Gratitude was expressed for the readiness of the Latin American countries to provide aid to the residents of South Ossetia who have suffered as a result of the Georgian aggression.

Grigory Karasin once again alerted the ambassadors of the fact that Russia had repeatedly warned of the dangers and inadmissibility of the armament of Georgia and had urged the parties to sign a legally binding document on the nonuse of force and resolve existing differences solely at the negotiating table. Alas, our concerns were heard neither in Georgia nor in other countries now trying to shift the blame to Russia for the bloodshed and tragedy in South Ossetia. At the same time the State Secretary emphasized that Russia, having been for centuries a defender of the peoples of the Caucasus and a guarantor of their security, will continue in accordance with the principles and norms of international law to search for effective measures guaranteeing the tranquility and well-being of the population of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.