NATO demands Russia to pullout troops

NATO foreign ministers gathered in Brussels in an emergency meeting to respond to the crisis in Georgia and concluded that regular cooperation with Russia will be impossible until Moscow fully withdraws troops from Georgia.

"We have determined that we cannot continue business as usual," the 26 NATO states said in a joint declaration.

The states also agreed to set up a new forum called NATO-Georgia Commission in order to strengthen ties. The agreement would be similar to the 11-year-old deal with Ukraine as a form of paving the way for Georgia's entry into the alliance.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told a news conference that Russian troops need to return to their position as of August 6 and until then there will not be any talks between NATO states and Russia.

"We certainly have not the intention to close all doors," he said adding that the decision was based on the promised withdrawal of Russian troops.

Source: Reuters