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Operation against Georgia was necessary to "pacify neighbours" - Medvedev

"It was a very hard chapter in modern history, but absolutely necessary," the president said

ROSTOV-ON-DON, November 21 (Itar-Tass) ——The operation against Georgia in South Ossetia in August 2008 was necessary in order to “pacify the neighbours” and send a signal to NATO, President Dmitry Medvedev said.

“It was a very hard chapter in modern history, but absolutely necessary,” the president said on Monday, November 21.

“The fact that Russia acted so strongly created a calmer situation around us than before” and “pacified our neighbours, showing them that they should act more correctly with regard to Russia and slam adjacent states”, he said.

Medvedev stressed that this also “sent a signal to some partners, including the North Atlantic Alliance, that before the decision on the alliance’s enlargement is made, it is necessary to think about geopolitical stability”.

“I think this is the main lesson [of the operation against Georgia],” he said.