NATO chief seeks consensus ahead of talks on Georgia-Russia

Source: AFP

BRUSSELS (AFP) - NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer spoke with several Alliance foreign ministers on Monday, seeking to forge consensus on the Georgia-Russia conflict ahead of a meeting in Brussels, a spokeswoman said.

NATO foreign ministers will meet at the Alliance headquarters in the Belgian capital on Tuesday to discuss the conflict and are expected to offer help and support to Tbilisi and to consider the response to Russia's action there.

"The NATO Secretary General has had a series of phone conversations with NATO foreign ministers and will continue calling other foreign ministers during the day," Alliance spokeswoman Carmen Romero said, without giving details.

The subject of Russia's role in Georgia has split NATO members, with NATO diplomatic sources confirming reports of a deep division within the Alliance, with Britain, Canada, the United States and most eastern European member states in one camp seeking a tough stance on Russia's actions.



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