Telephone call by Foreign Minister Tuomioja to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

Foreign Minister Tuomioja urged the Russian side to demonstrate restraint and to avoid provocative statements in order to prevent further escalation. A similar message has been passed to the Georgian side, namely to President Mikheil Saakashvili and to Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili during the EU troika visit to the South Caucasus on 2 October. Foreign Minister Tuomioja encouraged both parties to solve bilateral issues through frank dialogue and confidence-building.