Georgia's parliament urged the country's government on Thursday to sever diplomatic ties with Russia after Moscow's recognized the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.
"A few days ago Georgia's Foreign Ministry informed us of its decision to reduce diplomatic contacts and to cut the number of diplomats at its embassy in Moscow to five people," Andrei Nesterenko told a RIA Novosti press conference.
"We regret such decisions, as we are confident that under the current circumstances it is essential to maintain working diplomatic contacts, including for the resolution of urgent issues - humanitarian, consular, those concerning the ordinary people's interests," he said.
Russia officially recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Tuesday, saying the move was needed to protect the regions following Georgia's military offensive on August 8 in which hundreds of civilians died and thousands were forced to flee the region.
Nesterenko also said that should diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia be severed, the responsibility would lie with Georgia. "This will not be Russia's choice, and the responsibility will rest on the Georgian side," he said.
He said Russia is not imposing the recognition of the two Georgian republics on anyone, adding that Russia realizes that such a move demands time.
"The Russian position in this connection is clear. We treat our partners with respect and never impose our decision," the diplomat said.
The foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Britain adopted a declaration on Wednesday condemning Russia's "excessive use of force" in Georgia.
A G7 statement also said Russia's recognition of the breakaway provinces had "called into question its commitment to peace and security in the Caucasus."
Responding to the allegation, the ministry said: "The opposite is true - the timely and decisive actions of the Russian leadership prevented the destabilization of the entire Caucasus region."
Nesterenko also said the Russian Foreign Ministry is working on treaties on peace, cooperation and mutual understanding between Russia and Abkhazia and between Russia and South Ossetia.
He said Russia has delivered 5,500 tons of humanitarian aid, while foreign states have provided just 344 metric tons to the South Ossetian conflict zone.
The current standoff, in which ties between NATO and Russia have been frozen, has sparked media speculation that the seven leading industrial powers could oust Russia from the Group of Eight. However, the G7 statement avoided any hint of such a move, and British Foreign Minister David Miliband stressed on Wednesday that there were no such plans.
