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Diplomatic ties cut off

MOSCOW: Russia would eventually withdraw all its troops from Georgia, said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, as Georgia announced its decision to cut off diplomatic ties with Russia.

“We of course have no intention to stay there [in the security zones inside Georgia] for ever,” said Mr. Putin in an interview to German TV and posted on the Russian government website on Saturday.

“We accept that this is Georgian territory. Our aim is to ensure security in the region and prevent a secret military build-up [by Georgia] for launching a new armed conflict,” he said.

Georgia said it was severing diplomatic relations with Russia citing “continuing occupation” of Georgian territory by Russian troops and Moscow’s recognition of Georgia’s breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“We regret the Georgian move; it will not help bilateral relations,” said a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, adding that the ordinary people who would suffer.

From the Russian point of view, Georgia is shooting itself in the foot.

The break-off of diplomatic ties would affect a million Georgian nationals or more who earn their living in Russia and send back to Georgia hundreds of millions of dollars every year to support their families.

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