OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier on Monday expressed "great concern" over recent events that raised tensions between Georgia and Russia over Moscow-backed separatists.

"Canada has been following the recent events in Georgia with great concern," Bernier said in a statement, noting the downing of a spy drone and Russia's deployment of additional forces in the separatist Abkhazia region of Georgia.

"In anticipation of the proposed talks between Georgia and Russia this week, as well as the visit to Georgia of a group of European foreign ministers, Canada calls on all parties involved to display renewed restraint," he said.

Tensions over Abkhazia have been rising since mid-April when Moscow announced it was boosting ties with separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia also increased the number of peacekeeping forces in the region, saying Georgia was preparing a military assault to retake the rebel territory.

Tbilisi accused Moscow of seeking to annex the territories and of breaching Georgia's sovereignty.

Bernier urged "cooperation and responsible actions" from all sides and said it "fully supports" the United Nations' leadership in resolving the protracted conflict in Abkhazia.

"We reiterate the necessity of peaceful and constructive negotiations leading to a resolution of this conflict in a manner that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia," he said.

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