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East fails to unite for Russia over Georgia

28/08/2008

Russia has failed in a bid to convince eastern neighbours to support its actions in Georgia.

Dmitry Medvedev had hoped for central Asian states and China to back Moscow's formal recognition of two breakaway regions in Georgia as independent states.

Earlier the Russian president had insisted at the start of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) regional summit that the east was "united" over the issue.

But while a final declaration voiced concern over western condemnation of Russia's response, no SCO members followed Russia's lead of recognising South Ossetia or Abkhazia.

The SCO summit began today in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China.

The leaders of India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are also attending the SCO summit as observers.

"I am sure that the united position of the SCO member states will have international resonance," Mr Medvedev had said.

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

Moscow has faced widespread international condemnation for its response to Georgian shelling of breakaway region South Ossetia on August 7th.

Russian tanks, troops and planes poured into Georgia the following day and at one stage advanced on Tbilisi, while both sides accused each other of genocide.

Earlier on Wednesday the G7 joined Nato and the EU in condemning Russia's military reaction and subsequent actions in Georgia.

"We deplore Russia's excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia," a statement from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US said.