Russia bored with Condoleezza Rice’s far-fetched statements
Russia’s Foreign Ministry published an official statement in connection with Condoleezza Rice’s remarks accusing Russia of aggressive actions against Georgia.
Ms. Rice released harsh statements September 18 about US-Russian relations in light of recent events in Georgia and South Ossetia. In spite of the fact that the US Secretary of State virtually acknowledged Georgia’s guilt in unleashing the military conflict and expressed her condolences on the death of Russian peacemakers, Ms. Rice stated that the war had been masterminded by the Russian administration. According to Rice, the war had a goal to topple the regime of the Georgian government.
No one at the Russian Foreign Ministry was surprised with Rice’s statements. “It is not the first time when spokespeople for the US administration roughly misinterpret the events caused with Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia. There is nothing surprising about it, taking into consideration Washington’s bias to back the bankrupt regime in Tbilisi,” an official statement from the ministry said. “Russia does not intend to get into a rhetorical or any other confrontation with the USA,” the statement also said.
“Georgia attacked Russia, and we had nothing else to do but to use the right of self-defense in strict correspondence with Article 51 of the UN Charter. The United States begin to acknowledge the impossibility of the unipolar world, although it can only be seen through painful reactions to the demonstration of power on the part of the USA’s competitors,” the statement from the Foreign Ministry of Russia said.
President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that Russia would not yield to Western pressure or be pushed into isolation over the war in Georgia.
Medvedev's comments appeared to be a response to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who warned Russia on Thursday that its policies have put it on a path to isolation and irrelevance.
Medvedev dismissed a claim that Russia was sliding back to authoritarianism.
"They are, in fact, pushing us onto the development track that is based not on normal and civilized cooperation with other countries, but on autonomous development behind thick walls and an 'iron curtain,"' Medvedev said at a meeting with non-governmental organizations. "This is not our track, and it makes no sense to return to the past."
In addition, he vowed that Russia would set its own course.
"No new outside factors, let alone outside pressure on Russia, will change our strategic course," Medvedev said.
"We will continuously strengthen our national security, modernize the military and increase our defense capability to a sufficient level," he said. "And we will determine what level is sufficient proceeding from the current situation; it can't be measured once and for all."
Medvedev reaffirmed his push for a new pan-European security pact, saying NATO alone can't ensure security on the continent.
"It only has provoked the conflict," he said, in a reference to the war in Georgia.
