Honour ceasefire.

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NATO foreign ministers agreed yesterday that they eC[pounds sterling]cannot continue business as usualeC[yen] with Russia, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia.eC[pounds sterling]The Alliance is considering seriously the implications of RussiaeCOs actions for the NATO-Russia relationship,eC[yen] the 26 NATO foreign ministers said in a joint statement following crisis talks in Brussels.eC[pounds sterling]We have determined that we cannot continue with business as usual,eC[yen] they said, adding that there would have to reassess the NATO-Russia Council, established in 2002 as a framework for dialogue.NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Russia was not currently respecting the peace plan agreed by President Dmitry Medvedev.eC[pounds sterling]The future of our relations with Russia will depend on the concrete actions Russia will take to abide by the words of President Dmitry Medvedev... which is not happening at the moment,eC[yen] Scheffer told reporters in Brussels.The future of NATO relations with Moscow eC[pounds sterling]will depend on measures Russia will takeeC[yen] to abide by the agreement which calls for Russian troops to withdraw from Georgia.

eC[pounds sterling]We call on Russia to demonstrate, both in word and deed, its continued commitment to the principles upon which we agreed to base our relationship,eC[yen] the statement said.The Alliance condemned Russian military action in Georgia as eC[pounds sterling]disproportionate and inconsistent with its peacekeeping roleeC[yen].eC[pounds sterling]We remain concerned by RussiaeCOs actions during this crisis and remind Russia of its responsibility for maintaining security and order in the areas where it exercises control, especially in light of continuing reports of RussiaeCOs deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure,eC[yen] it said.Ahead of yesterdayeCOs meeting, called by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, several ministers stressed the importance of Russia honouring the terms of a ceasefire deal agreed with Georgia at the end of last week.

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