Russia Proposes UN Arms Embargo against Georgia

Russia introduced to the UN Security Council on Tuesday a draft resolution that calls for an arms embargo against Georgia.

"Georgia has been arming very aggressively in the past few years," Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters.

"The military budget of the country has grown over the past six years by 50 times ... and we believe that it was put to very bad use as they attacked South Ossetia," Churkin said.

"It should be in the interest of the members of the Security Council to introduce such an arms embargo against Georgia," he noted.

Churkin admitted that the Russian move is likely to face "strong opposition" from some council members, particularly the United States.

"But we believe that it was absolutely necessary to make this political statement by introducing this draft resolution," he said.

The Russian proposal came after its conflict with Georgia on Aug. 8. Following a five-day war with Georgia during which Russia sent in troops to South Ossetia to reclaim control over the region run by Russian peacekeeping force, Russia recognized South Ossetia and another Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia as independent states on Aug. 26.

Russia also said it will formally establish diplomatic ties with the two breakaway regions of Georgia on Tuesday.

The Russia recognition has not been echoed broadly in the international community but triggered strong objections from the West that is backing Georgia.

Churkin added that he also proposed that the Security Council hold an informal meeting in early October with official representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Speaking to reporters, Burkina Faso's UN Ambassador Michel Kafando, the council President for September, said the council has yet to make a decision on the Security Council meeting with Abkhaz and South Ossetian representatives.

"It is still under consideration and the council will discuss this matter later," Kafando said.