Report: Russian invasion threatens region

BRUSSELS, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Russia's incursion into Georgia undermines security in Eastern Europe, according to a report by the International Crisis Group.

The report, released Friday by the independent non-governmental organization, called Georgia's attack on South Ossetia rash and miscalculated. However, the report says Russia's violent retaliation was disproportionate, the Crisis Group reported.

The report, titled "Russia vs. Georgia: The Fallout," calls for Russia to pull its troops out of Georgia and for both sides to fully implement the cease-fire agreement. The report also calls on Russia to not keep a residual force in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia.

Crisis Group officials say the recent Russian-Georgian conflict raises serious concerns over stability in Eastern Europe and undermines the ability of the European Union and NATO to handle a renewed security threat.

The report called the immediate standoff between the West and Russia reminiscent of the Cold War.

"Current rhetoric in Moscow and Western capitals is eerily reminiscent of the Cold War and will do nothing to resolve the crisis on the ground in Georgia or repair the damage done to European security," Gareth Evans, Crisis Group president, said in a statement.

"The West needs to address Russia's behavior not by isolating Moscow, but by engaging it in a way that is both hard-headed and conditional."