Sun, August 10, 2008
CANBERRA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith on Sunday urged Russia and Georgia to call an immediate ceasefire in South Ossetia.
Smith told Nine Network that Australia was concerned about the military action.
"This has been a longstanding dispute. There have been tensions between Georgia and Russia ... simmering for some time. We're obviously very concerned. Our starting point is that we respect Georgia's territorial sovereignty over South Ossetia," he said.
"We call on all the parties to immediately engage in a ceasefire and we urge all parties to commence the dialogue."
UN Security Council talks on ending the fierce fighting in the breakaway Georgian enclave have ended in deadlock.
Smith said NATO, the United Nations, the European Union and the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe were all offering help to get the parties together to resolve the dispute.
Australia would play its part through its posts in Georgia and Russia, as well as to Canberra-based representatives of both countries, he said.
