Russia seeks support from eastern neighbors

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-29-2008 08:54

Georgia's Foreign Minister has accused Russia of ignoring international law by entering Georgia. But on Thursday, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev called on members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to understand Russia's actions in Georgia.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had appealed to the alliance for unanimous support of Russia's response to what it calls Georgia's "aggression." The alliance consists of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, meets with Premier  Vladimir Putin, right, in Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi  on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008.(AP Photo/ RIA Novosti,  Vladimir Rodionov, Presidential Press Service)

Medvedev's appeal has raised fears in Western capitals of the emergence of a competing strategic alliance to NATO forming around Russia. But other Asian nations may have been reluctant to strain their relations with Europe and the United States.

Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested the United States pushed Georgia towards war. Putin said Russia has grounds to believe US citizens were in the combat zone.

Vladimir Putin said, "If this is so, and if it is confirmed, it is very bad. It is very dangerous and this is the wrong policy."