Russia circulates own draft U.N. resolution

UNITED NATIONS-Russia circulated its own draft U.N. resolution aimed at bringing peace to Georgia to the Security Council on Wednesday, a day after blocking a rival Western draft that demanded an immediate Russian withdrawal.The Russian text simply restated and endorsed a six-point peace plan promoted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and signed last week by Russia and Georgia.Western diplomats say they are in favor of that plan but are reluctant to set it in stone through a Security Council resolution when they say Russia is ignoring its provisions by failing to make significant military withdrawals.U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff made clear Washington's opposition to the Russian draft, describing it to journalists as "intended to rubber-stamp a Russian interpretation (of the plan) that we do not agree with."The crisis in the Caucasus erupted after Georgia sent its military on August 7-8 to try to recapture the Moscow-backed breakaway enclave of South Ossetia and Russia responded with overwhelming force, sending troops and tanks far into Georgia.Relations between the two ex-Soviet states have worsened sharply in recent years over a Georgian drive to join NATO.The 15-nation Security Council is now faced with two conflicting drafts, both with little immediate chance of success since each is opposed by at least one veto-holding member. The United States, Russia, Britain, France and China have vetoes in the council.The Russian draft says the Security Council endorses the six-point plan, which it then details. In conclusion it "calls upon the parties concerned to implement the above-mentioned plan in good faith."
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