Russia on Tuesday criticized the European Union for threatening to postpone talks on a new partnership deal over the war in Georgia, and said the EU's statements on the Georgian conflict were biased. The EU decision, widely seen as a slap-on-the-wrist for Moscow, was made at a summit meeting in Brussels on Monday. EU officials said unless Russian troops pull back from positions in Georgia, talks on the wide-ranging political and economic agreement would be put off. “The partnership with the European Union should not be a hostage to the conflict” over Georgia, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters Tuesday. Nesterenko also claimed efforts were under way to rebuild Georgia's armed forces, and said Georgian military forces were behind protests against Russian armed forces stationed in the country. “There are active attempts to restore the activity of Georgian troops,” he said. “Yesterday, there were rallies and provocations near the town of Kapoleti targeting Russian troops. We believe they were organized by Georgian special services.” Georgian officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the claim.
