German foreign minister Steinmeier comments on Georgia скачать в хорошем качестве

German foreign minister Steinmeier comments on Georgia

(14 Aug 2008) SHOTLIST 1. Mid of German flags 2. Wide of members of the foreign affairs parliamentary committee leaving after meeting 3. Cutaway of media 4. German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier (centre) 5. Zoom in of Steinmeier speaking to media 6. Journalist taking notes 7. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister: "With a view to Russia, we must criticise what needs to be criticised and we have done so in the past, using the necessary clear words with our Russian interlocutors, particularly regarding the bombing in Georgia and the presence of Russian troops in Georgia proper." 8. Cutaway of cameras 9. SOUNDBITE (German) Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister: "But we should continue a politics of rationality and realistically conclude that, if the EU really wants to play a stronger role in the region, if the EU wants to help stabilise this crisis-shaken region, it must keep the channels of communication open with Tbilisi and with Moscow. Thank you." 10. Steinmeier walking away STORYLINE The European Union must keep open its channels of communication with Russia if it hopes to help stabilise the Caucasus, Germany's foreign minister said on Thursday. Frank-Walter Steinmeier's comments came a day after European Union ministers agreed to consider sending a mission to monitor a fragile peace deal between Russia and Georgia - but were divided over whether to punish Moscow for taking military action. "We should continue a politics of rationality and realistically conclude that, if the EU really wants to play a stronger role in the region, if the EU wants to help stabilise this crisis-shaken region, it must keep the channels of communication to open with Tbilisi and with Moscow," the foreign minister told reporters in Berlin. The Georgia conflict has has opened up a rift within the 27-nation EU. Former East bloc nations such as Poland and Latvia have urged a hard line against Russia, while older EU members such as Italy and Germany have taken a more conciliatory approach. "With a view to Russia, we must criticise what needs to be criticised and we have done so in the past, using the necessary clear words with our Russian interlocutors," Steinmeier said. The Georgia conflict has has opened up a rift within the 27-nation EU. The United Nations estimates 100-thousand Georgians have been uprooted by the recent fighting in the Caucasus; Russia says 30-thousand residents of South Ossetia fled north into Russia. The Russian General Prosecutor's office on Thursday said it has formally opened a genocide probe into Georgian treatment of South Ossetians. For its part, Georgia this week filed a suit against Russia in the International Court of Justice, alleging murder, rape and mass expulsions in both provinces. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...