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Georgian events coincide with invasion anniversary - Czech ForMin

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  • Georgian events coincide with invasion anniversary - Czech ForMin

    Czech Happenings, Czech Republic
    Aug 10 2008



    Georgian events coincide with invasion anniversary - Czech ForMin


    Prague/Tbilisi- Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, who has
    cut his holiday short over the conflict in Georgia, today said Prague
    supports Georgia where by a sad coincidence fights broke out shortly
    before the 40th anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion of
    Czechoslovakia, spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said.

    She told CTK that Schwarzenberg, who is returning to the office now
    instead of August 18, as originally planned, is in contact with his
    Georgian counterpart Eka Tkeshelashvili and also with Bernard
    Kouchner, the foreign minister of France that presides over the EU
    now.

    Czech Ambassador in Tbilisi Ivan Jestrab today said that some 30
    Czechs have left Georgia along with a convoy bound for the Armenian
    capital Jerevan, from where most of them are to leave by a Polish
    plane for Warsaw later today.

    Further Czechs will leave Armenia in the same way on Monday, Jestrab
    told CTK.

    Another four Czechs, who find themselves in western Georgia and cannot
    use their air-tickets to depart from Batumi by plane, will go to
    Istanbul by car. The Czech consulate in Istanbul will help them reach
    the Czech Republic, Jestrab said.

    About 15 other Czechs want to remain in Georgia. The embassy knows
    their identity, their whereabouts and it has connection with them.

    Another 15 Czechs, however, reportedly stay in Georgia's mountainous
    areas, according to the embassy's unconfirmed information. The embassy
    does not know their names nor is it in contact with
    them. Nevertheless, according to available information, all Czechs in
    Georgia are in order, unharmed and face no problems, Jestrab said.

    He said the situation in Tbilisi is calm, but local residents are
    naturally nervous.

    The Czech carrier CSA's regular flights from Prague to Tbilisi and
    vice versa on Saturday was cancelled over the security situation in
    Georgia.

    Another CSA plane is to depart for Tbilisi on August 12. "It will
    depend on the general situation whether the flight will depart," CSA
    spokeswoman Daniela Hupakova told CTK.

    On Friday, the Georgian military used force to gain control of the
    country's separatist and pro-Russian province South Ossetia. It met
    with armed resistance of the Russian military that sent in troops to
    reinforce the Russian members of the South Ossetian peace corps.

    Tens, hundreds and even thousands of victims have been reported by
    various sources from the South Ossetian centre Tskhinvali.

    http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_ view.php?id=327400
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