UNSC becomes centre of US, Russian dispute over Georgia

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council is witnessing an acrimonious wrangling over the action it should take on the Georgian conflict, after a fresh draft resolution introduced by Russia on the issue was promptly opposed by the US.

Russia, which had earlier rejected a French draft resolution seeking withdrawal of its forces from Georgia and the breakaway South Ossetia, introduced its own resolution seeking endorsement of the six-point French plan to which it had agreed.

The draft was, however, opposed by the United States, and diplomats coming out of closed door consultations said with veto wielding permanent members opposing each other, the Council is set for a bitter wrangling over the issue.
One of the contentious points is the issue of territorial integrity of Georgia.

The six-point plan does not mention it but the US and its allies would like to stress on it so as not to give the impression that they support independence for South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two breakaway regions.

The six-point plan simply says that international discussion would be opened on lasing security and stability arrangements for the two regions.

The Russian resolution mentions the six points and says that the Council should call upon the parties concerned to implement it in good faith.

Western diplomats, however, said the issue is much more complex and the resolution does not take into account the clarifications issued by France.