DUSHANBE, August 8, Asia-Plus — Representatives of member nations of the CIS are seriously concerned over deterioration of situation in South Ossetia, Georgia, Ms. Maria Gutsalo, a spokesman for the CIS Executive Committee, said referring to Oleg Ivanov, deputy head of the Belarus MFA directorate for CIS and EAEC (Eurasian Economic Community).
According to her, Mr. Ivanov has made such a statement on behalf of the working group for working out draft documents provided for by Section 9 of the Plan of Main Actions for Implementation of the Further CIS Development Concept. A two-day session of the working group started in Minsk, Belarus on August 7.
The CIS representatives urges all the parties to the conflict to refrain from any actions that might jeopardize the situation further and pose threat to stability in the region. Oleg Ivanov expressed hope for soonest settlement of the conflict, the spokeswoman said.
We will recall that Georgia launched a major offensive against South Ossetia on the night of August 8.
The Russian MFA released a statement on August 8, noting that several hours after reaching an agreement on continuation of negotiations to settle the new phase of South Ossetia conflict, German military sub-units launched “perfidious mass attack on Tskhinvali.”
At least 15 civilians are said to have died as well as several Russian peacekeepers based in Tskhinvali.
NATO, the US and the European Union have all called for an immediate end to the hostilities.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakasvili called on reservists to sign up for duty and accused Russia of sending fighter jets to bomb Georgian towns – claims denied by Moscow.
Residents of Tskhinvali were reported to be sheltering in basements as massive explosions rocked the city.
The international Red Cross had earlier said it wanted to see “humanitarian corridor” to the area to take in ambulances to retrieve wounded civilians. BBC quoted ICRC spokeswoman Anna Nelson as saying that they had received reports that hospitals in Tskhinvali were having trouble coping with the influx of casualties and ambulances were having trouble reaching the injured.
