Russian defence chief General Yuri Baluyevsky arrives for a press conference, on May 15, 2008 at the end of a NATO-Russia council at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. NATO countries are contributing to a 'destabilising' build-up of military power in ex-Soviet Georgia, the Russian defence ministry charged.'Members of NATO and other countries are gradually following the course of providing Georgia with large-scale military aid,' the ministry said in a statement. As Georgia has not ruled out the use of force against its rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, 'the build-up of the potential of the republic's military forces is having a destabilising influence on the... situation in the South Caucasus,' the statement said. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has vowed to regain control over the two Moscow-backed provinces, which broke from central control in wars in the 1990s, but has said he hopes to avoid any military conflict. Getty Images logo Getty Images 21 months ago

Russian defence chief General Yuri Baluyevsky arrives for a press conference, on May 15, 2008 at the end of a NATO-Russia council at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. NATO countries are contributing to a 'destabilising' build-up of military power in ex-Soviet Georgia, the Russian defence ministry charged.'Members of NATO and other countries are gradually following the course of providing Georgia with large-scale military aid,' the ministry said in a statement. As Georgia has not ruled out the use of force against its rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, 'the build-up of the potential of the republic's military forces is having a destabilising influence on the... situation in the South Caucasus,' the statement said. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has vowed to regain control over the two Moscow-backed provinces, which broke from central control in wars in the 1990s, but has said he hopes to avoid any military conflict.

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  1. NATO's civilian representative to Afghanistan Mark Sedwill talks to the media in Kabul February 9, 2010. Afghan villagers should stay inside and keep their "heads down" when thousands of U.S. Marines launch a massive assault on a densely-populated district in coming days, Sedwill said on Tuesday.
  2. NATO's civilian representative to Afghanistan Mark Sedwill (L) talks to the media as Gulab Mangal, governor of Helmand province, looks on in Kabul February 9, 2010. Afghan villagers should stay inside and keep their "heads down" when thousands of U.S. Marines launch a massive assault on a densely-populated district in coming days, Sedwill said on Tuesday.
  3. Mark Sedwill, left, the newly appointed NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, replies to a question as Golab Mangal, governor of Helmand province looks on during a press conference at the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
  4. Mark Sedwill, left, the newly appointed NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, looks on as Golab Mangal, governor of Helmand province addresses a press conference at the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
  5. Mark Sedwill, left, the newly appointed NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, replies to a question during a press conference at the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
  6. A convoy of foreign soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force are reflected on a mirror of a vehicle in Kandahar, south of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010.
  7. Mark Sedwill, the newly appointed NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, speaks during a joint press conference with General Stanley McChrystal, commander of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and commander of United States Forces in Afghanistan, unseen, at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010.
  8. Mark Sedwill the newly appointed NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, listens to a question during a joint press conference with General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and Commander of United States Forces in Afghanistan, unseen, at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010.
  9. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during a news conference after an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
  10. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during a news conference after an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
  11. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during a news conference after an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
  12. A general views of the informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
  13. Spain's Defense Minister Carme Chacon seen during an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
  14. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, and Turkish President Abdullah Gul walk together during an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
  15. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, right, meet during an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander.
  16. Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, left, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, second from left, U. S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, center, Britain's Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth, second from right, and Spain's Defense Minister Carme Chacon, right, pose for a group photo, following an informal NATO defense ministers meeting on Afghanistan, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. The situation in Afghanistan is improving after "a difficult year" in 2009, NATO's chief official said on Friday, echoing a rare optimistic assessment by the alliance's top war commander.

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