Georgia may cut Russia diplomatic ties

TBILISI, Georgia, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Georgian officials are threatening to cut diplomatic relations with Russia, although they also say they don't want to act irresponsibly.

Georgian Reintegration Minister Timur Yakobashvili made the warning Wednesday in reaction to Russian decrees the day before officially recognizing the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, RIA Novosti reported.

"We will drastically cut our diplomatic ties with Russia, up to consuls or envoys," Yakobashvili said, adding that Tbilisi will consider a complete termination of relations but hinting they likely will not go that far.

"But accounting for the fact that a great number of Georgians live in Russia, there would probably be no such decision. We want to act in a civilized way and not throw stones," he said.

A Georgian Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday approved a plan to cut diplomatic relations with Russia.