Medvedev: Russia to be taken into account by other states after conflict with Georgia

September 7, 2008 |

MOSCOW, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) — The recent conflict with Georgia indicated that other states will have to take Russia into consideration, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday.

“The events in South Ossetia showed that Russia will not allow anyone to infringe upon the lives and dignity of its citizens, that Russia is a state to be, from now on, reckoned with,” Medvedev said at a meeting of the State Council, a consultative body to discuss important issues with the head of the state.

Although some countries “are trying to subject us to political pressure, we have got used to it, and they will not be able to do anything,” he said.

“We were supported by hundreds of millions of people, but have not heard words of support or understanding from those who in similar circumstances spoke about freedom of choice and the necessity to use force to punish an aggressor,” Medvedev was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

The Russian president accused Western countries of arming Georgia under the guise of humanitarian aid. “Unfortunately, the armament of the Georgian regime, including under the flag of humanitarian aid, is continuing,” he said, noting that the United States has sent a whole fleet to render humanitarian aid to Georgia.

However, the White House denied there were any armaments on the ships, saying the country has provided nearly 30 million dollars in aid to Georgia since its recent clashes with Russia, including 1,200 tons of food and other relief supplies.

Georgia sent in troops to reclaim its breakaway region of South Ossetia on Aug. 8, triggering a military counter-offensive by Russia. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow brokered by France.

Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the other breakaway region of Georgia, as independent states last week has further strained its relations with the former Soviet republic.