Russia calls for urgent meeting with NATO over South Ossetia

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-12 16:07

BRUSSELS - Russia is going to call for an extraordinary meeting with NATO so that the alliance can be informed of Moscow's activities in South Ossetia, said Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin on Monday.

"We insist it happen tomorrow when NATO ambassadors are going to meet Georgian minister of foreign affairs," Rogozin told reporters.

Russia wants NATO to take into account the information given by Moscow before the alliance makes any decisions or statements, he said, adding that the meeting should be at the level of ambassadors.

Rogozin said about 2,500 civilians have been killed so far and 18 Russian peacekeepers also lost their lives, with 14 others reported missing.

He said 35,000 people have fled South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia and that between 9,000 and 16,000 people in the regional capital Tskhinvali are in a desperate situation and many need immediate assistance.

He said Russia has set up a refugee camp that can accommodate 2,500 people on the border between South Ossetia and Russia's North Ossetia. A field hospital has been set up and running with a second one being deployed, he said. Russia has delivered 340 tons of medical supplies and food stuff, he added.

Rogozin reiterated that there will not be talks between Russia and Georgia until Georgian forces pull out of the conflict region and Georgia signs an agreement that it will not use force in South Ossetia.

He warned NATO against any involvement in the conflict. Up to now, NATO has been collecting information, he said, hoping that NATO's position will not change.

"If (there is) NATO intervention in the zone of conflict, then the relations of Russia (with NATO) will be different, not a partner one," he warned.