Lithuanian diplomats go to Gori

VILNIUS-Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Laimonas Talat-Kelpsa and other Lithuanian diplomats arrived in the Georgian city of Gori destroyed and seized by the Russian forces during the armed Russia-Georgia conflict.

The Lithuanian delegation had to cross four control posts to reach Gori.

 Russian soldiers guarding the entrance into the city said they would not allow the delegation into Gori but contacted their leadership.

 While the Lithuanians were waiting, ambassadors of Germany and Norway arrived at the entrance along with representatives of international organizations and transport with humanitarian assistance.

 An hour later, the column of vehicles was allowed into the city.

 Talat-Kelpsa told BNS that the inspection at the control post was harsh violation of international documents.

"An alien army in an internationally-recognized territory of Georgia demanded that Lithuanian diplomats produce their documents. A shipment of the United Nations (UN) humanitarian assistance was suspended for an hour. In our opinion, it is also a severe violation of the ceasefire agreement, which suggests that humanitarian assistance should be granted unimpeded access to the conflict zone," said the Lithuanian diplomat.

Gori's pre-war population of approximately 70,000 people is now down what Lithuanian diplomats say is less than 10,000 people.