.US "very concerned" over shooting of Georgian plane
The United States said Monday that it was "very concerned" over claims that a Russian fighter jet shot down an unmanned plane from Georgia, warning against any "violation" of territorial integrity of the former Soviet state.
A senior US official said Washington believed Georgia's claims that a Russian MiG-29 jet shot down the plane over the breakaway region of Abkhazia at the weekend.
"I think at the moment, it looks pretty clear that what the Georgians are saying is true," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"But I do think before we add anything further on this, we want to give the Russians a chance to try and explain to us their version of events," the official said.
The State Department had contacted the Russian embassy as well as the authorities in Moscow over the incident, State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters. "But we are very concerned about this," he said.
On whether the Russian envoy in Washington was summoned over the incident, Casey said the United States had been "communicating" with Moscow "both in person and on the phone."
Georgia's allegation came amid spiraling tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi over Russia's support for rebel separatists in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Moscow immediately denied the claim, saying no Russian planes had been flying in the region at the time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed concern at the Georgian drone's presence in a "conflict zone."
Putin voiced his views in a telephone call with Saakashvili.
Noting a number "provocative incidents" against Georgia in the past, Casey said Monday, "We would hate to see a repeat of that or anything that would be increasing tensions between two neighbors, who we would hope would be able to have good relations with one another."
He reiterated US support for the "territorial integrity and sovereignty" of Georgia and warned, "No state should be taking actions that would violate that."
Putin issued a decree last week promising the separatists heightened support -- a move condemned by Georgia as an attempt at the "de facto annexation" of the two territories -- after Western nations recognized Kosovo's February declaration of independence from Serbia, which Moscow opposes.
The United States and NATO had called on Russia to reverse the move.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgian control during wars in the 1990s following the country's independence, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has vowed to regain control over the two regions and has long accused the Kremlin of stirring up separatism in order to weaken Georgia and stymie its efforts to join the NATO military alliance.
BreitBart
A senior US official said Washington believed Georgia's claims that a Russian MiG-29 jet shot down the plane over the breakaway region of Abkhazia at the weekend.
"I think at the moment, it looks pretty clear that what the Georgians are saying is true," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"But I do think before we add anything further on this, we want to give the Russians a chance to try and explain to us their version of events," the official said.
The State Department had contacted the Russian embassy as well as the authorities in Moscow over the incident, State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters. "But we are very concerned about this," he said.
On whether the Russian envoy in Washington was summoned over the incident, Casey said the United States had been "communicating" with Moscow "both in person and on the phone."
Georgia's allegation came amid spiraling tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi over Russia's support for rebel separatists in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Moscow immediately denied the claim, saying no Russian planes had been flying in the region at the time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed concern at the Georgian drone's presence in a "conflict zone."
Putin voiced his views in a telephone call with Saakashvili.
Noting a number "provocative incidents" against Georgia in the past, Casey said Monday, "We would hate to see a repeat of that or anything that would be increasing tensions between two neighbors, who we would hope would be able to have good relations with one another."
He reiterated US support for the "territorial integrity and sovereignty" of Georgia and warned, "No state should be taking actions that would violate that."
Putin issued a decree last week promising the separatists heightened support -- a move condemned by Georgia as an attempt at the "de facto annexation" of the two territories -- after Western nations recognized Kosovo's February declaration of independence from Serbia, which Moscow opposes.
The United States and NATO had called on Russia to reverse the move.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgian control during wars in the 1990s following the country's independence, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has vowed to regain control over the two regions and has long accused the Kremlin of stirring up separatism in order to weaken Georgia and stymie its efforts to join the NATO military alliance.
BreitBart
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