Fireworks over Georgia

[MosJan]

 

S.Ossetian president confirms intention to host Russian base

18:25 | 27/ 08/ 2008 http://img.rian.ru/i/b_print.gif TSKHINVALI, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - The South Ossetian president confirmed on Wednesday his intention to allow the Russian military to set up a base in the republic.

 

"As president, I will turn to the Russian leadership with that request," Eduard Kokoity told journalists.

 

Speaking about West European nations and the United States, which Georgia has asked to deploy peacekeepers in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone, he said countries that had armed Georgia cannot be peacekeepers, adding that Russian peacekeepers and the Russian 58th army were already in the republic.

 

Georgia attacked South Ossetia on August 8 in an attempt to regain control over the separatist republic, which split from Tbilisi in the early 1990s. Most people living in South Ossetia have Russian citizenship and Moscow subsequently launched an operation to "force Georgia to accept peace." The operation was concluded on August 12.

 

Russia's president signed decrees Tuesday recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states and called on other countries to follow suit.

 

Foreign leaders spoke out Tuesday against Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, while people in the Georgian breakaway regions greeted the news with raucous celebrations.

 

Kokoity also said the new South Ossetian government, now being formed, would include specialists from Russia.

 

On August 18, Kokoity dismissed the republic's government and introduced a state of emergency for a month. He sharply criticized the government's work in conditions of a humanitarian catastrophe after hostilities started by Georgia on August 8.

 

"We invite specialists from the Russian Federation to take a number of posts in the new government. There is nothing unusual in it," the South Ossetian leader said.

 

He also accused Germany, France, the United States and Ukraine of being involved in genocide against the South Ossetian people. "I want to stress that these countries are involved in South Ossetian people's genocide," Kokoity said.

 

He said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili should be brought to criminal account.

 

Kokoity also denied that South Ossetian security forces had been involved in killings of Georgian residents on the republic's territory.

 

"I deny rumors that Ossetians have carried out mopping-up operations in villages where Georgian people live. We observe the human rights of ethnic minorities, and everyone else's," he said.

 

 

[MosJan]

 

Russian analyst points to link between Georgian attack and Iran

15:49 | 27/ 08/ 2008 http://img.rian.ru/i/b_print.gif MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - A senior Russian military analyst said on Wednesday that the U.S. and NATO by arming Tbilisi used the conflict in Georgia as a dress rehearsal for a future military operation in Iran.

 

Col. Gen Leonid Ivashov, president of the Academy of Geopolitical Studies, told a news conference at RIA Novosti, "We are close to a serious conflict - U.S. and NATO preparations on a strategic scale are ongoing. In the operation the West conducted on Georgian soil against Russia - South Ossetians were the victims or hostages of it - we can see a rehearsal for an attack on Iran. There is a great deal of "new features" that today are being fine tuned in the theater of military operations."

 

He said the likelihood of a war against Iran was growing with each passing day, "As a result, the situation in the region will become destabilized," and added "causing chaos and instability" was becoming Washington's official policy line.

 

Ivashov said it was difficult to predict how other countries would react to a conflict with Iran, but according to him, "old Europe" would be reluctant for events to develop and to some degree would become Russia's allies.

 

With regard to the Georgia-South Ossetian conflict, he said that one of the principal goals of NATO's "geopolitical operation" was to neutralize Russia as a global player.

 

South Ossetia was attacked by Georgian forces on August 8. Hundreds of people died in the assault, and Russia subsequently launched an operation to expel Georgian forces from the republic. Moscow concluded its operation to "force Georgia to peace" on August 12.

 

President Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees on Tuesday recognizing Georgia's breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

 

Western political leaders have condemned Russia's decision leading to fears of a renewed Cold War. U.S. President George Bush said in a statement on Tuesday: "Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations."

 

 

[MosJan]

US Condemns Russian Recognition of Breakaway Georgian Areas By David Gollust

State Department

26 August 2008

 

Gollust report - Download (MP3) http://www.voanews.com/voanews_shared/images/audio_icon.gif

Gollust report - Listen (MP3) http://www.voanews.com/voanews_shared/images/audio_icon.gif

 

The United States Tuesday condemned Russia's recognition of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, with President Bush urging Moscow to reconsider. U.S. officials say there is no chance the United Nations will accept the two regions bordering Russia as separate states. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

 

http://www.voanews.com/english/images/Russia-Georgia-South-Ossetia-Abkhazia.jpgThe United States has joined European allies in rejecting the recognition announcement, with the White House calling the action on Abkhazia and South Ossetia one of a number of irrational decisions by Moscow.

 

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, acting a day after the parliament in Moscow voted for recognition, insisted Moscow had been forced to take the step after Georgia's attempt to take control of South Ossetia early this month.

 

President Bush, in a written statement from Texas, said the action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomacy in the wake of this month's Georgian crisis, and he urged Moscow to reconsider the irresponsible decision.

 

http://www.voanews.com/english/images/ap_us_condoleezza_rice_175_26Aug08_1.jpgCondoleezza Rice speaks at a joint press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, 26 Aug 2008Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, at a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said Russia's move to recognize areas clearly within the borders of Georgia is regrettable, and contrary to international accords supported by Moscow including the recent Georgia cease-fire.

 

"It puts Russia of course in opposition to a number of Security Council resolutions to which it is party as a member of the Security Council, as a member of the United Nations, and most appallingly as a member of the P-5 [permanent Security Council members]," she said. "The cease-fire also talked about the importance of moving forward to an international way to deal with these zones of conflict, so to preempt those international discussions is extremely unfortunate. Not only has the United States warned about this, but so has Europe."

 

Rice said any attempt by Moscow to try to validate the recognition of the two regions as independent in the U.N. Security Council would be dead on arrival.

 

She said various Security Council resolutions supported by Moscow itself recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within internationally recognized borders that include two regions.

 

Russia contends that Western countries undermined arguments for the sanctity of Georgia's borders by endorsing Kosovo's independence from Moscow's ally Serbia earlier this year.

 

But U.S. and European officials say Kosovo was a unique case, and that the Security Council implicitly authorized independence when it tasked U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari to find a solution when negotiations between Kosovars and Serbia failed.

 

A senior U.S. official who spoke to reporters here said he expected few, if any, countries to follow Russia's lead in recognizing the two areas and that Moscow is isolating itself with the clearly unacceptable diplomatic maneuver.

 

 

 

 

[hyethga]

Don't all these American/NATO warships in the Black Sea violate conventions agreed upon by NATO and Russia/Ukraine?

 

Yeah, nevermind: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080827/ap_on_re_eu/georgia

Edited August 27, 2008 by hyethga

[Arpa]

News Send to friend | Print version http://www.russiatoday.com/media/news/e/48b569f6ce7cd.jpgAFP Photo / Dmitry Kostyukov August 27, 2008, 16:20

South Ossetia denies ethnic cleansing of Georgians

South Ossetia president Eduard Kokoity has denied claims that Georgians are being ethnically cleansed in the territory. He said it is important to live up to the standards of an independent state and maintained that all human rights are being observed in the republic. Kokoity added the Georgian population is protected by the Interior Ministry.

went to show off their driving skills. People seem united as never before

===

Of course, now that the gruzinshvilis having graduated from the university of khoja- ali (ev)-oghlu, soon they will create a site with the label of “khoja-ali-ev-shvili”, and teach the world the new meaning of “ethnic cleansing” as in Artsakh, Nakhjavan, Javakh and Akhalkalak

Edited August 27, 2008 by Arpa

[MyTerrain]

MosJan, thanks for the GREAT links that you posted.

[MosJan]

Of course, now that the gruzinshvilis having graduated from the university of khoja- ali (ev)-oghlu, soon they will create a site with the label of "khoja-ali-ev-shvili", and teach the world the new meaning of "ethnic cleansing" as in Artsakh, Nakhjavan, Javakh and Akhalkalak

 

it's good to have neighbors such Armenia and Azerbejun - as long as Armenia & azeris are fighting Georgia can do as he pleases, as she wishes and lets not forget she has brothers such US & UK, it's soooooo nice to have such brothers who do support you and not just by talking

[MosJan]

ARMENIA-NATO TIES 'UNAFFECTED BY GEORGIA CRISIS

• http://www.armtown.com/img/photo/rfe_en_200808271.jpg

   

   

  Armenia will not reconsider its military cooperation with NATO despite mounting tensions between the U.S.-led alliance and Russia over the conflict in Georgia, the Defense Ministry in Yerevan said on Wednesday. NATO has strongly criticized Russia, Armenia's closest military ally, for its massive military campaign in Georgia that followed Tbilisi's ill-fated attempt to retake South Ossetia. It has also condemned Moscow's decision to recognize South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as independent states. The Kremlin has responded by freezing military cooperation and cutting diplomatic contacts with NATO. The Russian ambassador at the NATO headquarters in Brussels was recalled for consultations last week. Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, a spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry, told RFE/RL that Armenia's cooperation programs with NATO have not been affected by the growing acrimony that has fueled talk of another "cold war" between Russia and the West. "There have been no changes in our cooperation with NATO," he said. "It's business as usual." Shahsuvarian made clear that Armenian peace-keeping troops will continue to serve in Kosovo and Iraq as part of multinational forces led by NATO and the United States respectively. As recently as in June, the number of Armenian soldiers deployed in the former Serbian province since early 2004 was doubled to 70. Armenia also sent about 50 non-combat military personnel in Iraq later in 2004. It went on to sign an "individual partnership action plan," or IPAP, with NATO a year later. The deployments and the launch of IPAP underscored Yerevan's desire to complement its military alliance with Moscow with closer defense and security links with the West. Those ties will also be highlighted by a NATO-led military exercises that are scheduled to take place in Armenia from September 29 through October 21. More than a thousand soldiers representing 21 nations, including the U.S. and Georgia, are expected to practice joint military operations. Shahsuvarian said the drills will go ahead despite the uncertain security situation in Georgia. "Armenia is preparing for the NATO exercises," he said. "Everything is going according to plan." Armenia already hosted similar NATO-led exercises in June 2003. (Photolur photo)

• By Ruben Meloyan

[MosJan]

News Send to friend | Print version http://www.russiatoday.com/media/news/9/48b62fb03ea17.jpgAFP photo / Sergey Shakhidjanian August 28, 2008, 9:53

South Ossetia remembers its war dead

South Ossetia is paying tribute to the recent victims of Georgia’s aggression, where hundreds of civilians died. August 28 is a traditional day of mourning in the Caucasian republic, when all the dead are remembered. Meanwhile, as the recovery operation continues, emergency workers are doing their best to get schools ready for the start of the academic year.

 

Elsewhere, a mobile hospital set up by Russia's emergencies ministry has wrapped up its work in Tshkinval and been returned to Moscow.

 

We won’t become part of Russia – Abkhazia President

 

Abkhazia's president Sergey Bagapsh says his country has no intention of becoming part of Russia. But in an interview with French TV, he added that Abkhazia is thankful to Russia as it was the only country to help them during difficult times.

 

Meanwhile diplomatic activity between Russia and Abkhazia is expected to be initiated in the next few weeks.

 

Responsibility

 

Two days of celebrations followed Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on Tuesday. Crowds took to the streets in both capitals.

 

On Wednesday the president of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, came in person to meet with his people, and remind them of the responsibility that comes with independence.

 

"Nowadays we face many objectives and since yesterday much responsibility lies upon us, upon our republic and state," said Kokoity.

 

The president denied claims that Georgians are being ethnically cleansed in the territory. He said it is important to live up to the standards of an independent state and maintained that all human rights are being observed in the republic.

 

Kokoity added that the Georgian population is protected by the Interior Ministry.

 

Speaking about the exchange of prisoners, he claimed that the Georgian side is reluctant to make a list-for-list exchange.

 

Talks about the exchange of war dead are now underway between Tskhinval and Tbilisi.

 

“We are ready to give all war dead to the Georgian side,” Kokoity said, “but Georgians are unwilling to co-operate. Trading is unacceptable in such matters. Otherwise, it’s like the Middle Ages.”

 

Russia recognises republics’ independence

 

On Tuesday the Russian president recognised the republic’s sovereignty.

 

The republics are now looking to an independent future following Russia's recognition of their status and are calling on the international community to recognise them as well.

 

The road to this moment was long and hard. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the republic claimed its independence. Tbilisi on multiple occasions responded with force, claiming thousands of lives. Its last attack on the republic came in August.

 

 

[MosJan]

 

Ukrainian leader accuses Russia of threatening European security

20:53 | 27/ 08/ 2008 http://img.rian.ru/i/b_print.gif KIEV, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia constitutes a threat to all of Europe's security and undermines international law, the Ukrainian president said Wednesday.

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees Tuesday recognizing the Georgian breakaway republics as independent states and called on other countries to follow suit. Foreign leaders have spoken out against the Russian decision while people in the Georgian breakaway regions greeted the news with raucous celebrations.

 

"The decision made by the Russian leadership is a threat to peace and stability in our region and across Europe, undermines the existing international order... is an illegitimate change of state borders and a manifestation of pressure and forceful interference," Viktor Yushchenko said.

 

Georgia attacked South Ossetia on August 8 in an attempt to regain control over the separatist republic, which split from Tbilisi in the early 1990s. Most people living in South Ossetia have Russian citizenship and Moscow subsequently launched an operation to "force Georgia to accept peace." The operation was concluded on August 12.

 

The British foreign secretary, David Miliband, called Wednesday on Ukraine to review its relations with Russia and make them those of equal partners.

 

 

[MosJan]

 

Russia to keep recovered Georgian weapons - military prosecutor

21:43 | 27/ 08/ 2008 http://img.rian.ru/i/b_print.gif MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will not return the weapons and military hardware its troops collected after Georgian forces abandoned them following their August 8 offensive on South Ossetia, Russia's chief military prosecutor said Wednesday.

 

"I believe that the hardware and weapons, which were used for military actions against our peacekeepers as well as for the massacre of unarmed peaceful citizens, cannot be returned. This is not the way it has to be done," prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky said in an interview to be published Thursday in the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily.

 

The prosecutor said that in line with existing norms and regulations all abandoned weapons would be collected, counted and stored at Russian military installations.

 

Then, he said, depending on the state of a weapon, it would be destroyed or recommended for further use.

 

"Our main task for now is to compile a full and objective list of the weapons so that they cannot be stolen or used against civilians," Fridinsky added.

 

Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the Russian military's general staff, said last week that Georgia had pursued a program to increase its military capability over the past few years.

 

According to the Russian military, since 2005, Georgian tank numbers increased from 98 to 183, armored vehicles from 83 to 134, artillery pieces from 96 to 238, combat helicopters from three to nine and warplanes from seven to nine.

 

Georgia attacked South Ossetia on August 8 in an attempt to regain control over the separatist republic, which split from Tbilisi in the early 1990s. Most people living in South Ossetia have Russian citizenship and Moscow subsequently launched an operation to "force Georgia to accept peace." The operation was concluded on August 12.

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed decrees Tuesday recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states and called on other countries to follow suit.

 

 

[MosJan]

 

Russia harshly criticizes Group of Seven members for their hypocrisy

 

G7 countries united against Russia and issued a joint statement in which they condemned Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

 

Foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the USA and Great Britain said that Russia had violated the territorial integrity in Georgia, as well as the resolution of the UN Security Council regulating relations between Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

 

"Russia's decision has called into question its commitment to peace and security in the Caucasus," the counties' foreign ministers said in a statement. "We deplore Russia 's excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia."

 

The ministers urged Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia to the positions where they had been stationed before the conflict.

 

When Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev signed the decree to recognize the independence of the two republics on August 26, Ukraine was one of the first countries that showed its reaction to the decision. The Ukrainian administration declared its support for the territorial integrity of Georgia. The reaction from Washington, Paris and London followed soon afterwards. Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated that Western countries were working on a coalition against the Russian aggression in Georgia . For the time being, Russia has only one supporter of its actions in the Caucasus – Hamas movement, which many countries consider a terrorist organization.

 

In the meantime, Georgia started the previously promised procedure to cut its diplomatic ties with Russia. The Georgian Embassy in Moscow will reduce the number of its diplomats to only two officials. Russia will not be doing the same, a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia said.

 

France, a co-chairing state at the European Union, has blocked the initiative of Poland and the Baltic states to invite Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for the emergency EU summit which is slated to open September 1 in Brussels.

 

“Saakashvili will not be present at the summit,” an official representing the Council of Europe said.

 

The Georgian president stated in his recent interview with Germany’s Bild that he would not be attending the summit due to his fears to leave the country.

 

“The Russians will block our airspace and will not let me return to the country,” he said.

 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a telephone conversation with French President Sarkozy that Georgia must withdraw its troops to the locations of their permanent deployment.

 

Medvedev described his point of view in detail in connection with Sarkozy’s concerns about the current situation in the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medvedev was also on the phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, although it is not known whether the Russian president managed to talk Merkel round to his way of thinking.

 

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the criticism of Western states pertaining to Moscow’s initiatives in solving the conflicts between Georgia , South Ossetia and Abkhazia, caused a lot of raised eyebrows in Russia.

 

Lavrov harshly criticized his British counterpart, David Miliband, who said that Russia was still following the temptations of power politics.

 

"The sight of Russian tanks in a neighbouring country on the 40th anniversary of the crushing of the Prague Spring has shown that the temptations of power politics remain. The old sores and divisions fester. And Russia is not yet reconciled to the new map of this region,” the British Foreign Secretary said.

 

“It is not the appearance of Russian tanks in a neighbouring country, but the attack of Tskhinvali by Georgian tanks, aviation and Grad volley fire systems that took place during the day when the Olympic Games opened. Saakashvili thereby broke the Olympic truce declared by the UN General Assembly, Lavrov said.

 

The Russian minister responded to a statement about Russia’s supposed attempts to remake the map of the region.

 

“This map inclusively constitutes of conflict zones, regulated by the agreements, which have Georgia’s signature on them and which Saakashvili treacherously terminated,” Lavrov stressed out.

 

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Miliband’s appeals to democracy in Russia were ridiculous.

 

“We know what Saakashvili’s regime is about, and how his Western patrons forgive him everything including provocations against peacemakers, the suppression of opposition, the banning of all Russian TV channels in Georgia,” the minister said.

 

Lavrov added that he disagreed with David Miliband, who described NATO as an anchor of stability, democracy and the economic development.

 

“I’ve never heard of NATO’s activities to spread democracy, but things have apparently changed,” Sergei Lavrov said.

 

“I will leave this without any comments, nor will I comment on his statement claiming that this is the price of the division of Europe. It is the unjustifiable and the unfounded expansion of NATO that leads to such a division,” the minister said.

 

Lavrov paid attention to several factual mistakes in Miliband’s statements, who said that Russia had blocked ports, tunnels and other objects of the Georgian infrastructure.

 

“Only God knows where he took that information from. Journalists, international representatives and civilians can prove the opposite. When they say that they do not want to find out who started the conflict first, we believe that hypocrisy and modesty do not suit here towards those who were attacked in the middle of the night, he said.

 

 

 

 

 

[MosJan]

News Send to friend | Print version http://www.russiatoday.com/media/news/d/48b65dc824338.jpgAFP Photo / Alexey Sazonov August 28, 2008, 12:00

Abkhazia to remain independent from Georgia and Russia

Abkhazia's president Sergey Bagapsh says his country has no intention of becoming part of Russia. But in an interview with French TV, he added that Abkhazia is thankful to Russia as it was the only country to help them during difficult times. Earlier Russia's envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin stated that Russia's recognition of the two former Georgian republics proves Moscow has no intention to annex them - as Georgia has been claiming.

 

Meanwhile diplomatic activity between Russia and Abkhazia is expected to be initiated in the next few weeks.

 

Moscow wants its peacekeeping forces to remain in the region so some legal documents can be updated. Also, there are plans to sign a security treaty.

 

Abkhazia’s Foreign Ministry intends to ask other nations to recognise its independence. First of all, these will be the countries that recognised Kosovo’s independence.

 

In the meantime, NATO forces have been increasing their presence in the Black Sea, not far from Abkhazia’s coast. Although their mission, according to NATO commanders, is providing humanitarian aid to Georgia, Abkhazians regard this as a threat to their security.

 

Abkhazian authorities have asked Russia to provide protection from the sea. On Thursday, three Russia warships arrived in Abkhazia with an observation and peacekeeping mission.

[MosJan]

News Send to friend | Print version http://www.russiatoday.com/media/news/d/48b5afb81847c.jpg August 27, 2008, 23:31

Russian warship eases Abkhazian fears of NATO

On Wednesday, Abkhazia put on a welcome for a Russian warship arriving in its capital's port. The flagship cruiser ’Moskva’ dropped anchor in Sukhum, and joins two other Russian vessels in the town’s port. It’s hoped their arrival will ease locals fears about NATO’s increased presence nearby. Moskva is a highly equipped guided missile cruiser. It carries conventional weapons and is capable of carrying out electronic warfare. But its current mission is to observe the situation and provide security for Abkhazians.

 

Abkhazians continue celebrating the republic's recognition by Russia and they're hoping their independence will also be accepted by other nations. But as NATO increases its presence in the Black Sea, Abkhazians are worried. Local authorities hope the presence of Russian ships will help allay fears among the population of the region.

 

Abkhazian president Sergey Bagapsh went onboard to greet the sailors personally.

 

Two smaller Russian vessels are also docked in Sukhum sea port. Locals came with their families to see the ships. They thank Russia for its support.

[MosJan]

News Send to friend | Print version http://www.russiatoday.com/media/news/a/48b6acfb41e62.jpg August 28, 2008, 17:47

YouTube video shows Georgian tanks attacking Tskhinval

New footage of the first days of the Georgian attack on South Osettia has made its way onto the internet. The images on YouTube depict the early stages of the military aggression on the capital Tskhinval, which began three weeks ago. A person is heard speaking Georgian and giving orders to the tanks.

 

He is saying: “Aim at the roofs and set the houses on fire. Use ammunition supplies sparingly. Choose your targets and take two to three shots.”

[MosJan]

Georgian FM: Russia-Georgia conflict likely to trigger "domino effect"

 

www.chinaview.cn http://imgs.xinhuanet.com/icon/2006english/2007korea/space.gif 2008-08-31 23:50:31 http://imgs.xinhuanet.com/icon/2006english/xiao.jpghttp://imgs.xinhuanet.com/icon/2006english/2007korea/space.gif http://imgs.xinhuanet.com/icon/2006english/da.jpghttp://imgs.xinhuanet.com/icon/2006english/2007korea/space.gif Print

ANKARA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Georgian Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili warned Sunday that the Russia-Georgia conflict could spark a "domino effect," the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

 

The conflicts between Russia and Georgia could spread to Ukraine or other countries, thus posing a serious threat (to regional security), said Tkeshelashvili, who arrived in Istanbul on Sunday for a working visit.

 

Tkeshelashvili told a joint press conference after talking with her Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan that Russia was making a unilateral and dangerous move by invading Georgia.

 

"It (Russia) declared independence of two regions in Georgia. We will not discuss any cooperation until we see that Russia is a reliable partner," she said.

 

"We cannot think ourselves as a part of Russia. Georgia is under the occupation of Russian troops right now and the ceasefire agreement is not fully implemented," said the minister, adding that her country was undergoing a critical process.

 

Tkeshelashvili said there would be no talks since the ceasefire was not fully implemented, calling for a wider participation and international initiative to solve the crisis.

 

Babacan expressed his concerns over the recent developments between Russia and Georgia, and reiterated Turkey's supports for Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

Georgia, a former Soviet republic, has long been at odds with Russia over its two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as its own bids to join NATO and the European Union.

 

Earlier this month, Georgia sent in troops to reclaim South Ossetia, triggering a military counter-offensive by Russia. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow brokered by France.

 

However, tensions between the two nations were heightened as Russia recognized the self-proclaimed independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia last Tuesday.

 

 

Editor: Mu Xuequan

[Arpa]

Let us not be fooled. This is a heated version of the so called "cold war". Georgia is being used as a proxy for a coalition of Washington, Ankara and TelAviv to further isolate Armenia and Iran. Little do we know that as things are Moscow can cut a corridor or two on both sides, Abkhazia in the west and that azeri inhabited "Marneuli" in the east of that so called country of Georgia and become contiguous with Yerevan.

Why do you think, after so much foot dragging Gul of ankara as finally decided to visit Yerevan?

Russia support for separatists could have ripples

By PAISLEY DODDS, Associated Press Writer Paisley Dodds, Associated Press Writer 58 mins ago

LONDON – Russia's conflict with Georgia and recognition of its small breakaway territories as independent states may have broad repercussions for separatist movements in the former Soviet sphere and around the world.

 

The crisis could give a jolt of energy to other breakaway regions, especially those with links to Russia, or embolden China to pursue a tougher line in Tibet and Taiwan in the absence of tough Western measures.

 

"Any country that has a potential separatist movement will view the events in Georgia through its own unique prism," Richard Holbrooke, the former U.S. envoy who mediated peace in Bosnia in the mid-1990s, told The Associated Press.

 

"But the greatest cause for concern lies in the Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova — all states that border Russia."

 

With the exception of the Balkans, post-Soviet era Europe has grown accustomed to the notion of territorial integrity as stable — if not sacrosanct.

 

Russia's push into Georgia and its recognition of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have undermined this status quo — and may start to warm up so-called "frozen conflicts" in Moldova's Trans-Dniester region and Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Artsax, where Moscow backs separatist movements.

 

Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in conflict over Nagorno-Artsax, which is encircled by Azerbaijan but controlled by ethnic Armenian forces. Russia has close historical and economic ties to Armenia, which surrendered control of key sectors of its economy to Russia in exchange for debt forgiveness.

 

For the Kremlin, the stakes in oil-rich Azerbaijan have been raised by Washington's plan to build a military base there — a project that has incensed the Russians, who have a large military installation in Armenia with hundreds of personnel, fighter jets and air defense systems.

 

Russia also continues to back the breakaway Russian-speaking province of Trans-Dniester, that has split from Moldova over its feared reunification with Romania.

 

Russian troops remain stationed in the province to guard a huge stockpile of Soviet-era military equipment. It's a situation with eerie echoes to South Ossetia — the flashpoint of the Russia-Georgia conflict — where Russia kept "peacekeepers" before the eruption of this month's war.

 

"By illegally recognizing the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Dmitry Medvedev — Russia's president — made clear that Moscow's goal is to redraw the map of Europe using force," Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili wrote in an editorial that appeared in the Financial Times on Friday.

 

Perhaps nowhere are concerns about Russian designs in its "near-abroad" so acute as in Ukraine.

 

The country the size of France with a population of 46 million has long held a special place in Russian hearts and Moscow has been humiliated by its drive to join the European Union and NATO.

 

Many now fear Moscow has its sights on the strategic Crimea peninsula on the Black Sea — once one of the glories of the Russian empire.

 

Russia has not explicitly declared it wants to regain control of Crimea but nearly 1.2 million of the region's 2 million residents are ethnic Russians, many of whom believe Crimea should be Russian.

 

Russia has a lease that gives it control of the Sevastopol military base until 2017 and has hinted that it does not want to leave when the lease runs out.

 

The events in the Caucasus have been watched closely by a resurgent China, which has tried to extinguish separatist movements in Tibet and its far western province of Xinjiang, where Beijing says radicals are trying to set up an Islamic state.

 

For Beijing, the Russia-Georgia conflict may be double-edged.

 

On one hand, the spectacle of South Ossetia and Abkhazia making a big leap toward independence with Moscow's backing may send chills through the Chinese ruling elite as it struggles with its own separatist movements.

 

On the other, the Kremlin's use of military might to reassert dominance in a region it considers own backyard could set a valuable precedent for Beijing as it maneuvers to assert its will in places like Taiwan — which China has vowed to take back by force if necessary.

 

That may account for Beijing's ambivalent response to Russia's request for support at a meeting last week in Tajikistan.

 

China, along with four Central Asian nations, refused to endorse the invasion or recognize the breakaway provinces — but also criticized the West and signed a statement praising the "active role of Russia in promoting peace and cooperation" in the region.

 

"We have our Western friends and those in Central Asia who are not in agreement with Russian actions. But we also have a strong relationship with Russia," said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at People's University in Beijing.

 

"So China just needs to take a middle road."

 

In Turkey, which borders both Georgia and Armenia and hosts pipelines for Caspian Sea oil, Kurds in the country's southeast near the frontier with Iraq have been fighting for self-rule in parts of Turkey's east and southeast.

 

So far there are no signs the Georgia conflict will give a psychological boost to the Kurds' flagging struggle or provide the Turkish government reason to consider a harsher crackdown.

 

In Spain, the Basque separatist group ETA's fight for an independent homeland has steadily lost support after a long and deadly battle that has killed hundreds in terror attacks. Any sign of separatists triumphing elsewhere in Europe may help revive morale among Spain's separatists.

 

"The Georgian conflict isn't likely to have a direct effect on the emergence of new separatist or secessionist movements but it has the potential to create a long-term precedent," said Nicu Popescu with the European Council on Foreign Relations.

 

Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

[MosJan]

 

Crimean peninsula could be the next South Ossetia

One of British newspapers «Independent» reports that Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, could be the next flashpoint in the new Cold War. And any violent disturbance in Crimea could provide the political seismic shock to split Ukraine itself along its existing fault lines of ethnicity, language and religion.

 

The Crimean peninsula is the only part of Ukraine where ethnic Russians are in a majority. Many of them are deeply resentful about being part of Ukraine and openly call for annexation by Russia. Moscow has fostered pro-annexation groups for years.

 

In the Soviet era, Crimea grew as a naval base. And the peninsula, with its mountains, sweeping bays, beaches and Mediterranean climate also became a place of retirement for senior apparatchiks.

 

Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, the holiday business has revived strongly with a boom in hotels, restaurants, and other leisure-based industries. Much of the business is owned by Russian investors and provides another, purely commercial, motive for "annexation" disguised in passionate nationalist rhetoric.

 

The presence of the Russian fleet reinforces the local feeling that Crimea is part of Russia. Thousands of Russian sailors and soldiers are used to strolling around the city, and Russian flags flutter above the neo-classical government and naval buildings. The Russian port facilities have been leased by the Russians until 2017, and Ukraine has threatened not to renew the lease. Kiev has already infuriated the Kremlin with new restrictions on Russian vessels entering or exiting Sevastopol which were introduced after the Georgian invasion. Moscow has made it clear it is determined to stay.

Reports that thousands of Russian passports have already been distributed in Crimea have added to fears that a "South Ossetian" scenario is in the offing.

 

Source: Panorama.am

 

 

[MosJan]

News Send to friend | Print version http://www.russiatoday.com/media/news/b/48bcfe670d1cd.jpgAFP Photo / Dmitry Kostyukov September 2, 2008, 12:46

Ukraine to increase rent for Russian Fleet by up to 25 times

From January 1, 2009, the Ukrainian leadership is planning to put up the rent for the Crimean territories where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is stationed, according to Russia’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper. It claims the corresponding documents are being prepared by Ukraine’s Ministries of Foreign Relations and Defence. The rent price was calculated in 1997 and defined in the treaty of disposition of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on the territory of Ukraine. The calculations took into consideration the Ukraine’s debt to Russia, which at the time was $US 2 billion, and the cost of renting port facilities was agreed at $US 98 million.

 

Currently, Ukrainian debt to Russia is estimated at $US 1.3 billion.

 

Nevertheless, Ukraine’s former Defence Minister and now a member of parliament Anatoly Gritsenko says the country should pay off the debt and put up the rent – to $US 1 billion a year at least. His colleague Yury Kostenko believes the price should be $US 2.5 billion.

 

The ministries are facing the difficulty of deciding the exact market price as they have no list of objects the Black Sea Fleet is exploiting.

 

According to the treaty of disposition of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on the territory of Ukraine, concluded by Russia and Ukraine on May 28, 1997, Russia’s Fleet is to stay in the Crimea until May 28, 2017.

 

On August 13, 2008, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree to introduce ‘a permissive mechanism’ for crossing the Ukrainian border by Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

 

The decree announces that the fleet must inform the Ukrainian General Staff no later than 72 hours before the prospective crossing of the country’s border.

 

It must also present a register of staff, armaments, equipment, ammunition and explosives which the fleet is carrying, the types of ships, any aircraft and the point and date of crossing the border.

 

It seems that the Ukrainian leadership is interested in creating the most uncomfortable conditions for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet as its stationing in the Crimea may hinder the country’s joining the NATO.

[ED]

Someone is playing with fire here

 

neo-cons (bush and co.) managed to piss off Russia

dosent smell good.

 

I don't know of any hated unpopular, dumb, ugly and stupid administration, especially The president, secretary of state,.......... not only in US history but in worlds history

[Harut]

I think it was a quiate successful operation conducted by the united states.

 

1. It was a fact finding mission. They were able to find how far they can press Russia, what are Russia's militery capabilities and readiness.

2. They successfully alianated the western states from Russia by portraying as an evil country

3. They spread fear among ex-eastern bloc states, by creating Russia with imperialistic desires. Thus, insnuating mistrust towards Russia and expedited run towards the west and NATO.

4. They left no choice for Russians but to lower their already low standards and reputation and aliy with states of questionable reputations, such as Syria and Iran.

5. It gave a rise to nationalism in Russia, thus rise to xenophobia and intolerance, which cannot be good for country's development in this day and age.

 

While the biggest loser was Georgia, Russia was not a winner either. I must say, once again job well done, America.

Edited September 3, 2008 by Harut

[gamavor]

Radio Yerevan joke…old but golden!

 

- Who are the stupidest people in the World!

- Mmmmm, Instead Georgians have wonderful wine!

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2008 by gamavor

[Arpa]

I think it was a quiate successful operation conducted by the united states.

=====

As we speak “tricky dicky” Cheney has departed Tbilisi for Baku. He may convince them to make their countries as battlegrounds between Moscow and NATO.

I think Armenia is playing this game in the right way. Not offending Moscow, Washington, Ankara or Tehran. Note that Moscow could have leveled the entire country of Georgia before even the NATO soldiers had time to put their boot-s on. Only hoping that, when the regional giants clash we will not see the dejavu of Greek v Persian, Roman v Persian, Russia v Persia, Russia v furkey wars that used the land of Armenia as a “meeting place” and trample it to dust. Gerogia and azeristan have more land to burn, not mention ayatolistan and kemalistan.

 

 

[MosJan]

GEORGIA OFFICIALLY BREAKS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

• http://www.armtown.com/img/photo/pan_en_26896.jpgGeorgia on Tuesday formally broke diplomatic relations with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said. "The Russian Federation’s envoy in Georgia, Andrei Smaga, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and handed a note informing the Russian Federation that diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia are severed," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nato Chikovani said, AFP reports. "From this moment, there are no more diplomatic relations between the two countries," she said. The Foreign Ministry had announced Friday it was cutting diplomatic ties with Russia but maintaining consular relations. The move came after Russia recognized two breakaway Georgian regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - as independent countries. The consular department at Russia’s embassy in Georgia will shut down on Wednesday following Tbilisi’s formal announcement.

[MosJan]

 

Russia closes its embassy in Georgia

 

Russia slapped back at Georgia on Wednesday, suspending consular operations at its shuttered embassy in Tbilisi so that ordinary Georgians can't visit relatives in Russia

 

The suspension, which means no new applications for Russian entry visas will be accepted, aims to weaken Georgia's pro-Western leadership by creating problems for its people. It came after Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia following the fighting between the two former Soviet republics last month.

 

"A break-off of diplomatic ties is an action that has a price," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Wednesday in Moscow, adding that the ministry is also considering other measures.

 

The diplomatic break follows a short war and Moscow's recognition of two separatist Georgia regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as independent nations. The conflict has triggered the worst crisis between Moscow and the West since the 1991 end of the Soviet Union.

 

Without visas, Georgians cannot travel to Russia unless they have dual citizenship. Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians live in Russia, some with Russian citizenship.

 

"Now I cannot get to Russia to see my wife," Vakhtang Tsereteli, a Georgian whose wife is a Russian citizen and lives in Moscow, said outside the consulate Wednesday. "I don't know what to do."

 

Russia closed its Embassy in Tbilisi on Tuesday after receiving formal notice from Georgia that it was severing diplomatic ties, Russian Consul Valery Vasilyev told The Associated Press. He said employees have taken down Russian flags and other symbols that adorned the building.

 

The Georgian Embassy in Moscow closed Wednesday and all embassy officials will leave by the end of September, according to its charge d'affaires, Givi Shugarov.

 

The Georgian consulate in Moscow will remain open for now, Shugarov said. When Georgia announced it was severing ties, it said that consular relations would continue _ apparently to punish Russia without hurting Georgians with ties there.

 

But Vasilyev said the Russian consulate in Tbilisi was suspending operations pending instructions from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Existing visa applications will be processed but new ones will not be accepted, he said.

 

The conflict erupted Aug. 7 after Georgia launched an assault to regain control of the separatist province of South Ossetia. Russian forces swiftly repelled the offensive and drove deep into Georgia, whose staunchly pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili has angered Moscow by seeking NATO membership for the Caucasus nation.

 

Georgia straddles a major westward route for oil and gas from Central Asia and the Caspian Sea and has become the focus of a struggle for regional clout between Russia and the West.

 

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, in Azerbaijan on Wednesday, is due to arrive in Georgia on Thursday as part of a swing through Russia's southern neighbors to emphasize U.S. interest and support.

 

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is scheduled to visit Georgia in mid-September. NATO declined to offer Georgia a road map for membership in April, partly because of concerns about angering Russia, but the alliance has assured Georgia it will eventually join.