MOSCOW, March 6 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia's armed
forces are building fortified structures near the border with
South Ossetia, as well as new firing positions, the South
Ossetian president said on Friday.
"As of now, there are 35 Georgian armed checkpoints in the
zone of European observers' responsibility. Overall, there are
about 2,500 armed people on the Georgian side in the conflict
zone," Eduard Kokoity said.
He said Georgia's actions "are a serious violation of the
Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement."
"All responsibility for the breakdown in agreements lies
with Georgia and European observers, who are making no attempt
to pressure the Georgian side," he said.
The Medvedev-Sarkozy ceasefire plan ended a brief military
conflict between Russia and Georgia last August and calls for
the non-use of force in resolution of conflicts in the region.
Moscow recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia after a
five-day war last August with Georgia, which attacked the
latter in an attempt to bring it back under the control of
Tbilisi. Many residents in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia have
been Russian passport holders for several years.
Russia's move was condemned by the United States and
Europe. Nicaragua has so far been the only other country to
follow Russia in recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
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