Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” television program, Secretary Rice pointed out that Medvedev’s string of unfulfilled promises hurt Russia’s standing in the world.
Secretary Rice made her comments after Medvedev made yet another pledge to French and EU President Nicolas Sarkozy, promising to withdraw Russian troops from Georgia at noon, Monday the 18th.
“I just know that the Russian president said several days ago Russian military operations would stop. They didn’t,” Rice said on “Meet the Press.”
“The Russian president told President Sarkozy that the minute that cease-fire was signed by President Saakashvili, Russian forces would begin to withdraw. They didn’t. Now he has said that tomorrow, midday, Russian forces will withdraw and withdraw to their pre-August 6, 7 lines. This time I hope he means it.”
“You know, the word of the Russian president needs to be upheld by his forces. People are going to begin to wonder if Russia can be trusted. I think it’s really very much time for them to do what they say they’re going to do.”
Rice made several other critical comments about Russia, calling their reaction to the heightened conflict in the autonomous region of South Ossetia as a “disproportionate response” and saying that the ramifications of their actions might be irreversible in terms of their international diplomatic standing.
“Russia has already paid a price because when President Medvedev said that he wanted to be forward-leading and forward-looking and look to integration into Europe, his troops have done significant damage by instead damaging Georgian infrastructure and killing civilians in Georgia. Georgia will rebuild.”
“Russia’s reputation may not be rebuilt,” added Secretary Rice.
