DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

The Group of Seven rich nations has jointly condemned Russia's decision to recognise the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In a statement, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK also called Russia's use of military force in Georgia "excessive" and criticised its continued occupation of parts of the country. Russia recognised the independence of the two Georgian regions on Tuesday, nearly three weeks after Russian forces entered the areas and defeated Georgia's military in a brief war. Russian troops are still occupying parts of Georgia in partial violation of a six-point EU-brokered peace plan. The Russian government has said it sees no threat of a new Cold War, and has blamed Georgia for not negotiating a peaceful settlement.