France warns of regional instability triggered by Russia-Georgia tensions

France warned on Monday the instability caused by the conflicts between Russia and Georgia would expand to the whole region.

"We are worried about the ongoing tension between Russia and Georgia relations, although the Russia officers who had been arrested in Georgia were freed," Jean-Baptiste Mattei, spokesman of the French Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Monday.

Mattei said France was anxious that the instability caused by the Russia-Georgia breakup would expand to the whole region, adding the two countries should "avoid upgrading the tension in South Ossetie and Abkhazie".

The crisis, caused by the Georgia government's detaining of four Russian army officers on spying charges, has continued.

Russia deported about 150 Georgians and ordered school to search for ethnic Georgian pupils in Moscow on Friday, prompting allegations it had launched a racist campaign of retaliation over the spying scandal.

"We are also concerned about the discrimination regarding to the Georgian nationals who settle down in Russia," Mettei said.

Moscow have called back its ambassador and ordered to suspend all postal, air, road, rail and sea links with Georgia.

Source: Xinhua