Civic Democrats call for speeding up talks on Georgia’s entry to NATO

In related news, on Monday the executive council of the ruling Civic Democratic Party called for speeding up talks on Georgia’s entry into NATO. The news was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Alexandr Vondra. The party accused Russia of having taken advantage of division in South Ossetia in a show of force on sovereign territory and Mr Vondra made clear the Civic Democrat leadership was watching with “real concern the true objectives of Russian aggression”. On Monday Russia's parliament passed a motion calling on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to support the areas’ break-away bid - a move which was sharply criticised by the US. Despite an appeal by President George Bush to Mr Medvedev to not go ahead with the move, the Russian president confirmed he had signed a decree Tuesday, in which Russia formally recognised the regions.