MOSCOW. July 15 (Interfax-AVN) -- Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Viktor Zavarzin believes that the West and the NATO leaders in particular will not pay attention to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's request that Western Governments pressure Russia over the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.
"I was the Russian main military representative to NATO for many years so I know that organization from inside. I do not think that the alliance administration would listen to the appeal of Saakashvili," Zavarzin told Interfax-Military News Agency on Thursday.
"The West already has many problems - Iraq, Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia. In addition, Russia is not a country that can be put under pressure," he said.
"Speaking about participation in conflict settlement, let me stress it, participation and not pressure, the West is already active. The Georgian-Ossetian conflict is in the scope of OSCE activity, and observers of this influential international organization are actively involved in conflict settlement, including in resolving the present-day situation. I must say that Russia only welcomes such participation," Zavarzin noted.
According to him, "causes of the present-day situation in the region have nothing to do with the strengthening of Georgian- NATO relations, as Mikheil Saakashlivi says."
"Yes, Russia has repeatedly voice and will voice its disagreement with the NATO enlargement policy. But at the same time, we constantly say that each nation chooses ways of its protection independently. And we respect their choice. The current complications in the region are caused by actions of Georgian armed units. And they have been evaluated by Russian officials as provocative acts," the lawmaker noted.
"The escalating conflict in South Ossetia can be settled within approximately six months if the West puts pressure on Russia," Saakashvili said in London on Wednesday.
He claimed that Georgia's strengthening relations with the West, including NATO, had prompted Russia to escalate tensions in South Ossetia. Russia does not have strategic interests in the region, he said.