Russia claims China backing in Georgia conflict

[David]

DUSHANBE (AFP) - China and four Central Asian nations signed a statement Thursday supporting Russia's role in the Caucasus but also expressing "deep concern" over the Georgia conflict and calling for a negotiated settlement.

In a joint statement, the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan said they "support the active role of Russia in assisting peace and cooperation in the region."

The six in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) also "express their deep concern over the recent tensions surrounding the South Ossetia question and call for the sides to peacefully resolve existing problems through dialogue."

Echoing language used in the West over the conflict, a portion of the statement also said the summit members supported the principle of "territorial integrity" of states.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the statement showed a "united position" on the Georgia conflict, and Kremlin officials indicated they were happy with its phrasing.

China's foreign ministry reiterated, however, its concern over Russia's decision to recognise two breakaway Georgian provinces as independent states, and experts were split on how to interpret the Dushanbe statement.

Unequivocal Chinese support would be a diplomatic coup for Russia, which has found itself largely isolated since its military move into Georgia on August 8.

"It's not resounding support for Russia," commented Macha Lipman of the Carnegie Moscow Center, the Russian office of a US-based think tank. "Every country took into account their interests."

Fyodor Lukyanov, a respected independent analyst who edits the magazine Russia in Global Policy, differed.

"The SCO statement is a great victory by Russia, which has so far been in a vacuum" over Georgia. "They openly demonstrated their support for Russia in its standoff with Georgia."

Russia sent forces into Georgia in response to Tbilisi's offensive to retake South Ossetia, and hundreds of troops remain in what Moscow is calling a "peacekeeping" mission but Georgia has denounced as an occupation force.

Medvedev asserted that the summit had sent a clear message to the West, which has sharply criticised Moscow.

"I hope it will serve as a serious signal to those who try to turn black into white and justify this aggression," he said.

The SCO statement made no explicit mention of Russia's decision to recognise the rebel provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

Speaking before the statement was signed, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing: "China expresses concern over the latest developments in the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"We are fully aware of the complicated history and reality of the issues of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and given our consistent position on such issues, we hope the relevant countries properly resolve the issues through dialogue and consultation."

China, which is battling separatist claims on its own territory, called for "dialogue and consultation".

The president of energy-rich Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, sounded a note more in favor of Moscow.

After the summit, Nazarbayev said he related "with understanding to all the measures taken by Russia" when he held a one-on-one meeting with Medvedev.

"I would very much like international opinion to move toward peace and understanding, without constant announcements about the Cold War," he said.

Belarus, which is closely tied to Moscow, said Russia "had no moral" choice but to recognise the independence of the two Georgian regions.

Russian news agencies later quoted the Belarussian ambassador to Moscow as saying Belarus may "soon" recognise the two Georgian provinces.

A statement from the Belarus presidency called for another Moscow-dominated regional grouping, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), to make a joint statement on the conflict at its meeting on September 5.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

In the face of Western criticism, the Kremlin has angrily argued that Russia used military force only in response to a Georgian attack against South Ossetia, where tens of thousands of Russian citizens live.