(3 Jun 2008)
1. Exterior of NATO headquarters
2. Mid of NATO star
3. NATO flag
4. Set up of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General:
"Well, I hope it will not further escalate, but Russia can help a lot to de-escalate by withdrawing these so-called railroad military man, soldiers, because I think the Russians will not even pretend to themselves that they are outside the peacekeeping mandate, and I think they have no place in Abkhazia. The Georgians have not been asked, they have certainly not given their permission, they will not give their permission, so in other words it is an escalating action by Russia, and I think Russia should de-escalate and everybody should stay calm, be the voice of moderation, as the Georgians have been until now, and I commend them for that. But let's see if a constructive solution can be found, but constructive is certainly not bringing in extra forces outside the peacekeeping mandate."
6. Exterior of NATO headquarters
STORYLINE:
NATO accused Moscow on Tuesday of escalating tensions with Georgia by sending in troops to repair a railroad linking Russia with a breakaway border region and called for the soldiers' withdrawal.
"This deployment is clearly in contravention of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which NATO strongly supports," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in a statement. "These forces should be withdrawn."
Russia said on Saturday it has sent personnel into Abkhazia to repair the railroad.
The pro-Russian separatist government in region said 300 Russian troops arrived to restore rail links to the southern Russian city of Sochi, which is due to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Georgia denounced the move as an aggressive step, saying the Russians were preparing a beachhead for intervention against Georgia.
De Hoop Scheffer said the railroad troops were outside the peacekeeping mandate under which 2,500 Russian troops are stationed in Abkhazia and appeared to have no legal basis.
"Russia can help a lot to de-escalate by withdrawing these so-called railroad military man, soldiers, because I think the Russians will not even pretend to themselves that they are outside the peacekeeping mandate, and I think they have no place in Abkhazia," he said.
"The Georgian's have not been asked, they have certainly not given their permission... it is an escalating action by Russia."
Tensions between the two countries have mounted in recent weeks, as the pro-Western Georgian government seeks closer ties with the West, including NATO membership.
Moscow has responded with increased support for separatists in Abkhazia and another breakaway region, South Ossetia.
De Hoop Scheffer appealed for calm and urged both sides to "engage quickly in a high-level and open dialogue to de-escalate tensions".
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in 1992 after fierce fighting that followed the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Georgia hasn't recognised the Black Sea region's independence, but has offered it autonomy as part of a peace plan.
NATO last month delayed a decision on granting Georgia and Ukraine a road map for membership under Russian pressure, but allied leaders said they could one day join and offered to review the decision in December.
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