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16-08-2008, 08:23 PM
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Cameron signals Georgia support
http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/uk/2008/08/16/tory_leader_plans_georgia_visit
David Cameron has declared his support for Georgia after flying to the beleaguered Caucasus state for talks with President Mikhail Saakashvili
Following his meeting in Tbilisi with Mr Saakashvili and other senior politicians, Mr Cameron issued a statement condemning the continuing Russian military incursion into the former Soviet republic.
http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/public/images/20070821/150x120/A2000461187720191A.jpg
"I'm here as a politician representing one of the world's oldest democracies to show support for one of the world's newest. We are absolutely right to stand by a country, its democracy and its territorial integrity when it has been violated in this way," he said.
Mr Cameron has been at the forefront of demands for the British Government to get tough with Moscow, calling for Russia's expulsion from the G8 and new restrictions on Russian nationals travelling to the UK.
He has also been pressing for Georgia's application for membership of Nato to be speeded up in an attempt to deter future incursions into its territory by Moscow.
However, he was accused by Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey of "posturing" and offering to make commitments Britain would be unable to honour.
"David Cameron is right to criticise Russia but wrong to promise Georgia early Nato membership," Mr Davey said.
"It is simply not credible for Britain and Nato to make confetti commitments to protect every nation with the lives of our servicemen and women.
"When David Cameron matches his tough talk on expanding Nato more quickly with a pledge to double defence spending or introduce military conscription, perhaps then we could take him seriously.
"Posturing and photo opportunities are one thing, serious statesmanship when Britain's armed forces are already overstretched is quite another."
Cameron signals Georgia support
http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/news/uk/2008/08/16/tory_leader_plans_georgia_visit
David Cameron has declared his support for Georgia after flying to the beleaguered Caucasus state for talks with President Mikhail Saakashvili
Following his meeting in Tbilisi with Mr Saakashvili and other senior politicians, Mr Cameron issued a statement condemning the continuing Russian military incursion into the former Soviet republic.
http://latestnews.virginmedia.com/public/images/20070821/150x120/A2000461187720191A.jpg
"I'm here as a politician representing one of the world's oldest democracies to show support for one of the world's newest. We are absolutely right to stand by a country, its democracy and its territorial integrity when it has been violated in this way," he said.
Mr Cameron has been at the forefront of demands for the British Government to get tough with Moscow, calling for Russia's expulsion from the G8 and new restrictions on Russian nationals travelling to the UK.
He has also been pressing for Georgia's application for membership of Nato to be speeded up in an attempt to deter future incursions into its territory by Moscow.
However, he was accused by Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey of "posturing" and offering to make commitments Britain would be unable to honour.
"David Cameron is right to criticise Russia but wrong to promise Georgia early Nato membership," Mr Davey said.
"It is simply not credible for Britain and Nato to make confetti commitments to protect every nation with the lives of our servicemen and women.
"When David Cameron matches his tough talk on expanding Nato more quickly with a pledge to double defence spending or introduce military conscription, perhaps then we could take him seriously.
"Posturing and photo opportunities are one thing, serious statesmanship when Britain's armed forces are already overstretched is quite another."