Nato chief on Russia Georgia conflict

(12 Aug 2008) 1. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) headquarters with flags 2. Close of NATO flag 3. Mid of NATO HQ and flags 4. Various of flags 5. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer arriving for news conference 6. Pan from entrance to Scheffer 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General: "The ceasefire was clearly not considered enough. It is very important that all parties go back to what is called the status quo ante, that is the status quo as it existed on the 6th of August. So it is not only a ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities, the situation of the 6th of August has to be restored and that also means that all forces have to be in the positions they had on that date." 8. NATO staff listening 9. Wide of news conference 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General: "I think that's, that the Bucharest communique and Bucharest declaration stands. That answers your question and no ally will do anything away from the Bucharest declaration." 11. NATO staff member listening 12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General: "I do not think quite honestly that the bombardments we have seen, the naval blockade we have seen, the massive use of force by the Russians we have seen is in conformity with the CIS peacekeeping mandate. I do not think that has much to do with peacekeeping, quite honestly." 13. NATO staff member listening 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General: "NATO is not seeking a direct role and NATO is not seeking a military role in this in this conflict." 15. Flags outside NATO headquarters STORYLINE: NATO's secretary general said on Tuesday that Russia's announcement that it was halting military action in Georgia was an important first step, but not enough. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters at the NATO alliance headquarters that Russian and Georgian forces needed to go back to positions they held on August 6, the day before hostilities over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia broke out. "The ceasefire was clearly not considered enough. It is very important that all parties go back to what is called the status quo ante, that is the status quo as it existed on the 6th of August," he told reporters in Brussels. "So it is not only a ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities, the situation of the 6th of August has to be restored and that also means that all forces have to in the positions they had on that date," de Hoop Scheffer added. Earlier on Tuesday Russia ordered a halt to military action in Georgia and agreed to a EU-sponsored peace plan, after five days of air and land attacks that forced tens of thousands to abandon their homes and left some areas of Georgia in smouldering ruins. After chairing a special NATO meeting in Brussels de Hoop Scheffer said Russia's use of force was not in line with the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) peacekeeping mandate. "I do not think this has much to do with peacekeeping, quite honestly," he added. De Hoop Schefffer also said that NATO was not looking to get involved in the conflict. "NATO is not seeking a direct role and NATO is not seeking a military role in this in this conflict." Georgia insisted on Tuesday that Russian forces were still bombing and shelling despite the pledge by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and rejected Russian calls for their president, Mikhail Saakashvili, to resign. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...