Russia should restore transport links with Georgia-OSCE

TBILISI, Oct 2 (Reuters) The OSCE chairman in office today called on Russia to match Georgia and take steps to decrease tension caused by the crisis over the arrest of four Russian officers, accused of spying charges.

He also called on Moscow to re-establish transport links with Georgia which earlier Russia said were being suspended.

Speaking after Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili announced he was handing over the four officers to the OSCE, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht said: ''I also explicitly call on the Russian side to respond in a similar way with gestures to decrease tension.'' ''Isolation is not the solution,'' De Gucht said at a joint news conference with Saakashvili. Road and air links should be re-established as soon as possible, he added.

He also called for a meeting ''at the highest levels'' between Georgia and Russia to defuse the crisis. He said Georgia had already accepted an invitation to such a meeting.

REUTERS LL PM1839