The United States on Monday strongly urged Russia and Georgia to "lower the rhetoric" after a spying furor and offered Washington's help to resolve long-standing conflicts such as in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried said he hoped both sides would try to reduce tensions following the release of the "soldiers" and he urged Russia to lift restrictions, which include a ban on imports of Georgian wine and bottled water.
"This is a moment, we hope, with the Russians returned, for Russia and Georgia to step back, lower the rhetoric and hopefully work together," Fried told reporters.
He added: "Hot rhetoric, sanctions, threats, all kinds of provocative behavior don't help.", Reuters reports.
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