Georgia has repeatedly expressed its intention to regain control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away in the early 1990s. It has also accused the CIS peacekeeping force, mainly represented by Russians, of backing separatists.
"We [Russia] believe that the most urgent first step should be the signing by Georgia, Sukhumi [Abkhazia's capital] and Tskhinvali [South Ossetia's capital] of an agreement on the non-use of force and guarantees of security," Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.
He also said Russia hopes that "our neighbors will calm down and start actively resolving their internal problems."
Among the issues in Georgia the minister named continuous violations of human rights and freedoms, as well as the intimidation and suppression of political opposition in the country.
"These problems should be resolved, and not used to justify inaction and repression against a mythical 'Russian threat'," Lavrov said.
Last Wednesday Army Gen. Yury Baluyevsky, chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, said Russia's military had evidence that Georgia is prepared to use force to resolve conflicts with its breakaway provinces.
"You will surely remember [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili's statement, to the effect that he is determined, before his re-election, to resolve the problem of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I believe this implies the use of force, among other things," Baluyevsky said.
Georgia has already called for the peacekeepers in the troubled regions to be replaced by a neutral international force.
The UN Security Council unanimously approved an extension of the mandate for its observer mission in Georgia on October 15 by another six months, until April 15, 2008.
