Moscow, August 05: Rising tensions between Russia and Georgia have prompted the Russian president to hold talks with his US counterpart over the worsening situation.
The appeal came as Russian troops in independence-seeking South Ossetia are on increased combat readiness on the de facto border with Georgia, amid rising tension between the ex-Soviet territories.
Russia claims the move came in response to continuing “provocations from the Georgian side” ahead of the anniversary of the August war over South Ossetia.
A White House press statement said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made the appeal during a phone conversation with Barack Obama on Tuesday.
“Russian President Medvedev called President Obama today to wish him happy birthday,” the statement said.
It added that the two leaders “discussed the situation in Georgia and the need to decrease tensions in the region.”
In Tbilisi, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili warned of the risk of renewed conflict with Russia on Tuesday, asking the United States and the European Union to help avert a new war.
“President Obama reiterated the importance of working through established crisis management mechanisms such as the Joint Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism and underscored the need for international monitors,” the White House statement added.
—-Agencies