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THE ABKHAZIA CONFLICT BLOG

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ITAR-TASS: Abkhazia to participate in international consultations in Geneva (November 15, 2008)

The Abkhazian side will participate in the international consultations in Geneva, Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba told Itar-Tass on Friday. According to him, the Abkhazian authorities received an invitation Friday from the organizers to take part in the international consultations on security in the Caucasus. Link

Voice of America: Georgian Ccrisis reveals limited leverega with Russia (November 8, 2008)

The Georgian conflict has shown a resurgent Russia ready to use harsh power politics to advance its aims  and Europe was not able to put up a united front against it, says Michael Denison of London’s Chatham House research center. “You look at the UK and the US, not directly dependent on Russian energy - willing and able to take a sharper line with Russia,” says Denison.  He says Eastern Europe with its old fears of Moscow’s domination also took a harsher stance.  But, says Denison, not so Europe’s central belt, “Germany, Italy, France, all of whom have look to cut bilateral deals, looked to accommodate Russia.” Link

FinChannel.com: Russia ratifies treaties with Georgian provinces (November 4, 2008)

Moscow legalized its relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian MPs followed President Dmitry Medvedev’s request and timely ratified friendship treaties with the republics - the head of state introduced the documents to the lower chamber of the Parliament last week. According to Chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev, “the treaties are in line with Russia’s national interests, with their wording being the same as in the treaties concluded with other friendly states”. Link

Kyiv Post: Russia could not wage a war against a bigger army than that of Georgia’s (October 28, 2008)

According to Jane’s Strategic Advisory Services, Russia's war in Georgia showed its military would be no match for a bigger enemy because it has not adapted to post-Cold War realities. Improvements in command, training levels and the employment of flexible, modern weapons systems are required before the Russian military can face any opponents larger or better equipped than the Georgian military. Link

The Moscow Times: Russia Names S. Ossetia’s Prime Minister (October 24, 2008)

Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia on Wednesday approved a former Russian tax official as its prime minister, prompting Georgian charges that Moscow has annexed the region after a war in August. Aslanbek Bulatsev, a former tax chief in neighboring North Ossetia, was approved by the rebel region's parliament. Link

Eurasianhome.org: Looking for settlement of the Abkhaz and S. Ossetian conflicts (Oct. 21, 2008)

Michael Averko, an independent foreign policy analysts, writes that “Russia arguably could and should have refrained from deciding on whether to recognize South Ossetian and Abkhaz independence. Doing so would have given the Kremlin a more honest broker status, without limiting its ability to implement policies. The continued non-recognition of South Ossetian and Abkhaz independence would make Russia more popular with Georgians. Among Georgians, there is a consensus that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia. Overall, Georgians are not as historically antagonistic towards Russia as some other peoples.” Link

Bloomberg: Daniel Fried criticizes Russia for not complying with cease-fire agreement (Oct. 20, 2008)

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said Russia has failed to meet its obligations under a European Union-brokered cease-fire that ended a five-day war with Georgia in August. "The cease-fire accord negotiated by Sarkozy requires Russian armed forces to withdraw to their positions before the outbreak of hostilities,'' Fried told reporters today in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. "The Russians haven't done so. They're in compliance with some of it,'' he said, referring to the cease-fire. Link

Christian Science Monitor: Abkhazia struggles with identity crisis (October 19, 2008)

While the Abkhaz republic, recognized only by Russia and Nicaragua, has defiantly proclaimed its independence from Georgia for 15 years, it's having trouble letting go of its ties to Russia. Billboards in the capital city, Sukhumi, proclaim: "Independence, freedom, and peace," but only under juxtaposed images of Russian and Abkhazian flags and the two countries' presidents. Stores are stocked with Russian goods, and every summer Abkhazia's pristine coast is flooded with Russian tourists. Link

Prof. Zi©ba: Poland, U.S. wrong to support Saakashvili... Obama better for Central Europe (October 16, 2008)ÿ

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The EuropeanCourier.org interviews Prof. Ryszard Zi©ba, Jean Monnet Chair at the Institute of International Relations of the University of Warsaw. We talk: U.S. missile defense shield in Central Europe, the Georgian crisis, foreign policy toward Russia and U.S. presidential elections. Read more

Council of European Union: Russia’s withdrawal satisfactory (October 13, 2008)

Here is a link to a document issued today by the European Union in regards to Russian troops’ withdrawal from Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, which the Council finds satisfactory. The issue was discussed by the General Affairs and Relations Council. Every month the Council brings together the foreign affairs ministers of the European Union, the European Commission and the Secretary-General of the European Union, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Link

Financial Times: Saakashvili will not attend EU-Georgia conference (October 2, 2008)

The president of Georgia will not attend next month’s European Union conference to discuss his country’s conflict with Russia, after predicting that Moscow will not be ready to negotiate seriously on the issue for several months. In an interview with the FT, Mikheil Saakashvili said the conference in Geneva scheduled for October 15 would be attended by officials rather than politicians, and that currently “all diplomatic activities have only increased Russia’s aggression.” Link

TheNews.pl: Poland increases military spending in reaction to the Georgian crisis (September 30, 2008)

Poland’s government decided to increase military spending for FY2009 by approximately $1 billion, this is by 9%. The increase is regarded to be necessary in the light of the recent invasion of Georgia and the 25% rise in Russia’s military spending for FY2009. Lately, the Polish government also undertook decisive steps to speed up the construction of LNG terminal to decrease country’s dependence on Russia’s natural gas. Link

UNHCR: Links to reports about the refugees’ situation after the Georgian Crisis (September 29, 2008)

Here is a link to a UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ website which focuses on the situation of the refugees after the Georgian crisis. It includes frequent reports from the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. Link

The Economic Times: Russia to lose another major international deal (September 21, 2008)

Fearing that Russia may use the uranium from Australia for its nuclear weapons program, Australia's Federal Parliament's Treaties Committee advised the government to delay ratifying the treaty with the nation. Australia is expected to review a report before it makes a final decision on the matter. The Treaty, worth about $1 billion dollars for sale of uranium to Russia, was signed by the Howard government last year. Link
  

Global Guerillas: Halting Russian Encroachment (September 15, 2008)

John Robb, an author of the Brave New War, posted an interesting opinion at his blog regarding ramifications of the Georgian crisis. Robb claims that Georgia, the Baltic States and other neighbors of Russia “can inflict damage on Russia that far exceeds the potential economic benefits Russia receives. Any one of these nations could easily inflict tens of billions in damage to Russia's energy industry (which pays for much of the Russian government). If these nations came together in a defensive alliance, its possible that Russian energy production could be halved and inflict damage that's counted in the trillions.” Link

Daily Telegraph: David Miliband subjected to 'F-word' tirade from Russian foreign minister (September 13, 2008)

David Miliband, the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary, was subjected to a tirade of four-letter abuse when he spoke to his Russian counterpart over the country's invasion of Georgia. The Daily Telegraph reported that Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, reacted with fury when Miliband and he spoke on the telephone. Mr Lavrov objected to being lectured by the British. Such was the repeated use of the "F-word" according to one insider who has seen the transcript; it was difficult to draft a readable note of the conversation. Link

Palin: War with Russia Possible (September 11, 2008)

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left open the option of waging war with Russia if it were to invade neighboring Georgia and the former Soviet republic were a NATO ally. "We will not repeat a Cold War," Palin said in her first television interview since becoming Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate two weeks ago. Palin said that she'd favor including Georgia and Ukraine, both former Soviet republics, in NATO despite opposition by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Asked whether the United States would have to go to war with Russia if it invaded Georgia, and the country was part of NATO, Palin said: "Perhaps so." Link
  

Reuters: Russia agrees to complete troops pull out (September 8, 2008)

Reuters reports that, Russia agreed to completely withdraw its troops from Georgia's heartland within a month, but there was no commitment to scale back its military presence in two Georgian separatist regions. Georgia welcomed the deal as a "step forward", brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on behalf of the European Union during four hours of talks with Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev. Link

AP: No U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia (September 6, 2008)

Now is not the right time for the U.S. to move forward on a once-celebrated deal for civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Saturday. Her comment increased speculation that President Bush is planning to punish Moscow for invading Georgia, a former Soviet republic, by canceling the agreement. Such a move is being planned, according to senior Bush administration officials, but is not yet final. Link

Financial Times: Foreign Investors Severely Punish Russia's Economy (September 6, 2008)

Despite the EU’s decision, earlier this week, not to impose any sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Georgia, the international investors started withdrawing their capital from Russia’s markets pushing its economy to the edge of a breakdown. Only yesterday 50 billion dollars was withdrawn from the Russia’s capital market causing Russia’s central bank to intervene to support its currency. As independent bankers stated, Russia’s capital market has found itself in the worst situation since the financial crisis of 1998. Link

AFP: Saakashvili is "political corpse" (September 2, 2008)

Speaking in an interview ahead of US Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Georgia, Medvedev again accused Washington of helping Tbilisi "build its war machine" and urged the United States to review its relations with the country. "For us, the present Georgian regime has collapsed. President Saakashvili no longer exists in our eyes. He is a political corpse," Medvedev said in the interview broadcast on Russian television. Link

Russia Today: It is Impossible to Isolate Russia (September 2, 2008)

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has criticised the EU, saying Monday's emergency summit in Brussels failed to acknowledge Georgia's aggressive role in the Caucasus conflict. In an interview with Euronews, he also said Russia would not be isolated from the international community.Medvedev said the meeting showed that: "unfortunately, there is still no understanding of Russia's motives in making the decision to repulse Georgia's aggression, and in making the decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as subjects of international law. This is deplorable but not fatal, because in this world, things change", he said. Link

The Independent: EU issues cautious warning to Russia (September 2, 2008)

European Union leaders warned last night that Russia faced "isolation" unless Moscow made a "fundamental choice" to back down from its confrontational position in the Caucasus. After an emergency summit in Brussels, EU leaders said relations with Russia had come to a "crossroads". Future economic and political ties "may" depend on Moscow's willingness to remove troops from undisputed Georgian soil and implement an EU-brokered six-point peace plan. Link

Reuters: Saakashvili politically safe for now (August 30, 2008)

Reuters reports that despite leading Georgia into a disastrous war with Russia and losing two of the country's provinces, President Mikheil Saakashvili looks politically secure for now as Georgians unite in adversity. The U.S.-educated lawyer projects a pro-market, media savvy image but his rough treatment of opponents last November and harsh anti-Russian rhetoric has alarmed some in the West who fear his impetuous style is unsuited for the volatile Caucasus. Link

BBC: Miliband warns Russia (August 30, 2008)

Foreign Secretary David Miliband issued a warning to Russia not to begin a new Cold War, when he flew to Ukraine to meet the country's leaders. He says that Russia's actions have altered European stability; and added that Ukraine is an important country in reassessing the situation in Europe, which has the full support of the UK. Listen here

AP: Russia officially recognizes Abkhazia's and S. Ossetia's independence (August 26, 2008)

Russia stunned the West on Tuesday by recognizing the independence claims of two Georgian breakaway regions, and U.S. warships plied the waters off of Georgia in a gambit the Kremlin saw as gunboat diplomacy. The announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ignored the strong opposition of Europe and the United States, and signaled the Kremlin's determination to shape its neighbors' destinies even at the risk of closing its doors to the West. Link

The Times Online: Interview with Ukraine's Victor Yushchenko (August 25, 2008)

Here is a link to an interview with Ukraine's President Victor Yushchenko, in which he analyzes the Georgian crisis. According to Yushchenko, "the main lesson from Georgia is that no single model of national security can guarantee the defense of national sovereignty. Only collective security can guarantee peace and stability and restrain aggression. Ukraine has to move towards the NATO alliance. For our country it is the only way to protect our national security and sovereignty. When the borders of NATO expand so too does the region of peace and stability." Link
 

The Independent: Russian parliament asks Medvedev to recognize independence of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia (August 25, 2008)

Russia has raised the stakes in the political fallout over its war with Georgia, as both houses of the Russian parliament voted unanimously to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The final decision on whether to recognize Georgia's two breakaway regions as independent countries will be taken by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Link

The European Courier: Turkey or Russia, East of Georgia (August 23, 2008)

Turkey has been a staunch backer of Georgia and its integration into NATO. Undoubtedly

Turkey is more cognizant of its ever increasing role as fronting Euro Atlantic interests in the region, as well as its historical rivalry with first Russia and then the Soviet Union. Turkey is working on closer economic ties to the US toÿ reflect already the integral defensive relationship through NATO and beyond. Read more

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Council of Europe: Russia's aggression is unacceptable (August 22, 2008)

"It is unthinkable that, in the 21st century, a member State of the Council of Europe invades the territory of another member State. The occupation by Russia of a part of Georgia, as well as the human rights violations in the territories under its control, are unacceptable and cannot go unpunished," declared M ty s E”rsi (Hungary, ALDE) and Kastriot Islami (Albania, SOC), co-rapporteurs on the monitoring of the obligations and commitments by Georgia of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), after their visit to Tbilisi and Gori from 18 to 21 August. Link

CNN/Interfax: Abkhazia asks Russia for recognition of its independence (August 21, 2008)

The parliament of Abkhazia, has asked Russia to recognize its independence, according to a report by the Russian news agency Interfax. Lawmakers approved a request for independence from Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh, Interfax reported. Link

Reuters: Russia will start withdrawal (August 21, 2008)

Russia said it would complete a pullback of troops in Georgia by the end of Friday, August 22, but it stopped short of the extensive withdrawal demanded by the West, saying it would keep a force deep inside Georgia's heartland. NATO this week suspended contacts with Russia in protest at the conflict, and Russian hit back by freezing some military cooperation with the alliance. Link

The European Courier: Europe and the Georgian crisis (August 20, 2008)

The Russia’s invasion of Georgia may be a turning point in the history. However, it is hard to believe those voices, which claim that a new Cold War is coming and that the West will define itself once again in opposition to the Orthodox civilization. Russia is not a match to the West and never will be again. It is a utopian dream of some of Russia’s elites, who believe that their country can become a counterweight to the overwhelming power of the West. Read more

Brzezinski: Let's withdraw from Russia's 2014 Winter Games in Socchi (August 19, 2008)

Zbigniew Brzezinski, once a hardliner against Russia in the Carter Administration, calls for U.S. withdrawal from the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which are to be hosted in Russia's Socchi. It is, however, somewhat utopian and not proportionate idea. And just to remind everybody, there was a similar proposition in respect to the Beijing Olympic Games and the Darfur genocide. It did not work. Also, why should the West wait 6 years to punish Russia for its aggression, which happened just now in 2008? Link

Robert Gates: Russia will not launch a nuclear strike against Poland (August 17, 2008)

Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, dismissed Russia's threats that it will launch a nuclear strike on Poland for its support of Georgia and for signing a missile defense deal with the United States. Gates called those statements as Russia's empty rhetoric. Link

David Cameron: Stop Russians coming to the UK (August 17, 2008)

David Cameron called for visa restrictions on Russian citizens wanting to visit Britain to punish Russia for its invasion of Georgia. The Tory leader also called for Moscow to be suspended from the G8 group of industrial nations and for its talks on a partnership agreement with the EU to be frozen. Link

National Review: Russia must be punished (August 16, 2008)

Writing for the National Review, Frank J. Gaffney, the president of an influential conservative think-tank, formulates responses to Russia's aggression against Georgia. In Gaffney's opinion, Russia should be excluded from G-8 group, should be prevented from joining WTO and its Gazprom should be denied making investments in Alaska. Additionally, measures should be taken leading to decrease of shares' values of Gazprom and Lukoil, which are traded at the NYSE. Link

Mo Sacirbey: Russia's agenda in Georgia (August 16, 2008)

When most Americans heard of initial reports that Russian tanks were streaming into Georgia, some at least for the moment must have wondered if Atlanta was soon to come under bombardment. But this Georgia, the one in the Caucuses that used to be part of the Soviet Union is not in the consciousness of many Americans. This Georgia is far away, with problems and "ethnic hatreds" of its own. Nonetheless, there is much to be concerned about for the globe and Americans even if it is not the Georgia Ray Charles' sings off, as the lyrics say: "Georgia, Georgia, No Peace I find." Read more

AP: George W. Bush reasserts Georgia's territorial integrity, steps up rethoric against Russia (August 16, 2008)

George W. Bush warned Russia against making claims to the territory of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia."These regions are a part of Georgia and the international community has repeatedly made clear that they will remain so," said Bush, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his side. "There's no room for debate on this matter", he added. Link
   

New York Times: U.S.-Poland missile deal a response to Russia's invasion of Georgia (August 16, 2008)

According to New York Times, the missile defense deal "reflected growing alarm in countries like Poland, once a conquered Soviet client state, about a newly rich and powerful Russia's intentions in its former cold war sphere of power. In fact, negotiations dragged on for 18 months - but were completed only as old memories and new fears surfaced in recent days." In New York Times's opinion, the missile deal is the strongest West's reaction to Russia's military operation in Georgia so far. Link

Gorbachev: Saakashvili doesn't deserve trust (August 15, 2008)

In the air of CNN's Larry King program, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said Russia moved forces to South Ossetia in response to what was happening to Tskhinvali, as it needed to address it, to address devastation of the city, where sophisticated weapons were used, to address the killing of people. The clash was provoked by Georgia, Gorbachev emphasized. "Saakashvili doesn't deserve trust, but this is for the Georgians to decide", he added. Link

Financial Times: Russia's response to Georgia was right (August 14, 2008)

Writing for the Financial Times, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, says that "Russia has been entirely proportionate in its military response to Georgia's attack on Russian citizens and peacekeepers. Russia's tactical objective has been to force Georgian troops out of the region, which is off limits to them under international agreements. Despite Georgia's assertion that it had imposed a unilateral ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers and supporting troops remained under continued attack - a fact confirmed by observers and journalists in the region. Russia had no choice but to target the military infrastructure outside the region being used to sustain the Georgian offensive. Russia's response has been targeted, proportionate and legitimate." Link

Times Online: Ukraine threatens to blockade Russian fleet in Crimea (August 14, 2008)

Ukraine threatened to blockade the Russian Black Sea Fleet in an act of solidarity with Georgia that risked escalating the conflict. After flying to Tbilisi to assure Georgians of his country's support, President Yushchenko signed an order imposing tough restrictions on the Russian fleet, which is based in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. Mr Yushchenko's decree instructs Russia to give 72 hours' notice of any movement of ships, aircraft or personnel in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities were given the power to alter those plans. Link
 

Peace Plan: a link to the Georgia peace plan (August 14, 2008)

Here is a link to the full text of the Georgia peace plan negotiated by Nicolas Sarkozy. Link

AFP: John McCain slams Russia and Putin over assault on Georgia (August 12, 2008)

Speaking today, John McCain said that "Russia no longer shares any of the values and principles of the G-8, so they should be excluded". He also added that he would support Georgia's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if he is elected president in November. Link

ICJ: Georgia sues Russia for ethnic cleansing (August 12, 2008)
 

The Republic of Georgia instituted today proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the Russian Federation for "its actions on and around the territory of Georgia" in breach of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). In its Application, Georgia "also seeks to ensure that the individual rights" under the Convention "of all persons on the territory of Georgia are fully respected and protected". Link

AP: US, allies weigh punishment for Russia (August 12, 2008)

Scrambling to find ways to punish Russia for its invasion of pro-Western Georgia, the United States and its allies are considering expelling Moscow from an exclusive club of wealthy nations and canceling an upcoming joint NATO-Russia military exercise, Bush administration officials said. Link
  

Voice of Russia: Cuba supports Russia's position on S. Ossetia (August 12, 2008)

Cuba supports Russia's position towards the crisis in South Ossetia and demands a withdrawal of Georgian forces from the zone of conflict. "It is a lie that Georgia defends its national sovereignty" said Raul Castro. He added that "the Russian forces have legally been in South Ossetia from the very beginning to carry out a peacekeeping mission and have never been involved in provocative actions". Link

John McCain: Republican candidate warns Medvedev and Putin of severe, long-term consequences of their actions (August 11, 2008)

John McCain, Republican presidential candidate, warned Russia of severe, long-term negative consequences of Russian aggression against Georgia, and therefore pushed the Georgian crisis in the spotlight of American media. He said that America has important strategic interests at stake in Georgia, especially the continued flow of oil through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which Russia attempted to bomb in recent days; the operation of a critical communication and trade route from Georgia through Azerbaijan and Central Asia; and the integrity an d influence of NATO, whose members reaffirmed last April the territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty of Georgia. Link

Polish Radio: Poland and the Baltic States condemn attack on Georgia (August 10, 2008)

The presidents of Poland and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have issued a joint statement condemning what they see as the naked aggression of Russia against the independent state of Georgia as conflict escalates in the breakaway state of South Ossetia. They have also called on the European Union and NATO to take up the initiative and oppose, what they called, 'the spread of imperialist and revisionist policy in the east of Europe." Link

Daily Telegraph: Putin is convinced of West's weakness (August 10, 2008)

James Sherr from the Chatham House publishes an interesting op-ed in the Daily Telegraph offering some broader, strategic perspective on the conflict. He says that Vladimir Putin is sure that the West's power is diminishing, therefore he is not afraid to act decisively in Georgia. As Sherr puts it "Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia's President, might have been profoundly unwise to employ massive force against the pro-Russian separatists in South Ossetia last Thursday, but his lapses of judgement are not the point. The commanders of Russian forces and their political masters in the Kremlin hoped he would behave exactly as he did. The episode is a perfect application of what Russian military scientists call "reflexive control": the defeat of an adversary through his own efforts. It is also an application of Clausewitz's maxim that war is a tool of policy." Link
 

Prezydent.pl: Polish President allows access to his official website by Georgian authorities after cyber-attack on Georgia blocked its governmental servers (August 10, 2008)

Russia expanded war on Georgia by launching a cyber-attack on Georgia's governmental servers. The webiste of Georgia's foreign ministry has been shut down. In an immediate response to this new attack, Polish President allowed access to his official governmental website to Georgia's authorities, which will be positing news and their statements over there since now. All posts are in English. Link

Reuters: Georgia offers cease-fire (August 10, 2008)

Reuters reports that Georgia offered a ceasefire and peace talks on Sunday after pulling troops back from South Ossetia's separatist capital but some fighting continued and Russia demanded an unconditional withdrawal. Reflecting Western alarm at the widening conflict, the United States condemned Russia's "disproportionate and dangerous" military action. France, the holder of the EU presidency, sent its foreign minister on a peace mission. Link

Reuters: Georgia calls for a cease-fire in S. Ossetia (August 9, 2008)

Georgia called for a ceasefire on Saturday after Russian bombers widened an offensive to force back Georgian troops seeking control over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. President George W. Bush said Russian attacks on Georgia outside South Ossetia marked a "dangerous escalation" of the crisis and urged Moscow to halt the bombing immediately. Link

Polish Radio: Polish Prime Minister and the President vow to undertake diplomatic offensive in the EU to help Georgia (August 9, 2008)

All the evidence shows that Georgia's [territorial] integrity has been violated," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters after an emergency meeting with President Kaczynski at Gdansk airport this morning. The two Polish leaders are to be in direct contact. He also informed about taking steps to organize a meeting of the heads of EU states concerning the current situation in Georgia. Also a special working group devoted to the issue and including Poland's foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski is to be created. Link
  

BBC News: Georgia-Russia war coverage (August 8, 2008)

Here is a link to BBC's coverage of the Georgia- Russia conflict, which includes videos with statements by Georgia's President Saakashvili and Russia's Foreign Ministaer, Sergei Lavrov. Link

John McCain: Statement on Russia's aggression in Georgia (August 8, 2008)

Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, issued a strong statement against, what he called, "the Russian aggression in Georgia". McCain said that "the U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course it has chosen. We should immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to assess Georgia's security and review measures NATO can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation. Finally, the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia." Link

Reuters: Russia escalates the war and attacks Georgia's territory hundreds miles from S. Ossetia

(August 8, 2008)

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will declare martial law in a few hours time, the secretary of Georgia's Security Council, Kakha Lomaia, said. He also informed Reuters that Russia has bombed the (Black Sea) port of Poti and the military base at Senaki. "We think Russia has started to bomb civil and economic infrastructure" he added. Link

AP: Russia sends a column of tanks to South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)

The Georgian military offensive in South Ossetia prompted furious response of Russia, which vowed retaliation and sent a column of tanks into the region. Russia's Channel 1 television earlier showed Russian tanks that it said had entered South Ossetia. The report said the convoy was expected to reach the provincial capital within a few hours. Link

Polish Radio: Kaczynski establishes a hot line with Saakashvili, urges peaceful solution (August 8, 2008)

After eruption of fights in Southern Ossetia, Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, established

a hot line with Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili. Kaczynski urged Geogia's leader to

look for a peaceful solution instead of continuing the violence. In a statement promptly issued after the phone conference, Kaczynski reiterated Poland's full support for Georgia's territorial integrity and called "unacceptable" any military interference in the conflict by Russia. Link

Reuters: Fighting continues in South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)

According to Reuters, the Georgian troops launched a military offensive to re-take the territory of Southern Ossetia. Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said his forces had "freed" the greater part of the territory's capital, Tskhinvali, and ordered a full-scale mobilization of military reservists. Georgia said four Russian jets entered Georgian airspace and dropped bombs on two places just south of the territory, which has been outside central government control since the 1990s. Link

Al Jazeera: Heavy Fighting Erupts in South Ossetia (April 7, 2008)

Heavy fighting has restarted in Georgia's breakaway province of South Ossetia, just hours after it appeared that the two sides had agreed to a cease-fire. Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's president, had earlier offered an immediate halt to heavy fighting, which had injured at least 21 people, and said he had ordered his forces not to return fire if attacked. Russian peacekeepers in the region reported that shelling had stopped for at least four hours after Saakashvili's televised speech. However, just hours later, Eduard Kokoity, the leader of the de facto government of South Ossetia, said that his forces were confronting Georgians in the outskirts of Tskhinvali. Link
 

Reuters: Russia, U.S. call for a halt of violence in South Ossetia (August 6, 2008)

Russia and the United States called for a halt to violence in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia where separatists made disputed claims of military success against Tbilisi's forces. But while Moscow's Foreign Ministry urged calm over the deepening conflict, the Russian military accused Georgian military jets of overflying South Ossetia, a charge Tbilisi swiftly denied. Link

Voice of America: Georgia key to Democracy Building in Caucasus (August 5, 2008)

Voice of America publishes an interesting article by its senior correspondent, Andre de Nesnera. In Nesnera's opinion, "relations between Moscow and Tbilisi have been strained ever since Mikhail Saakashvili was elected president of Georgia more than four years ago following a popular movement known as the Rose Revolution." He concludes that "the United States and other western nations could play an important diplomatic role in defusing tensions between Russia and Georgia in order to keep the situation in that volatile region from spiraling out of control." Link

Civil.ge: Russia tries to create "illusion of war" (August 4, 2008)

According to Georgian State Minister for Reintegration, Temur Iakobashvilli, Russia tries to create "an illusion of war" aimed at derailing increasing efforts to revive the peace-process in the region. He said that recent tensions with South Ossetia, combined with the Abkhaz side's refusal to take part in talks, were designed to obstruct the peace initiatives. Link

Mid.ru: Russia warns Georgia over breakaway province (August 4, 2008)

Russian Foreign Ministry warned Georgia of using disproportionate force in its breakaway province of South Ossetia. According to the Russian Ministry: "despite statements made by Georgian leaders about the need to take urgent action to de-escalate tension, the practical actions of Tbilisi belie these declarations. On the evening of August 2 and on the night of August 2-3, Georgia was conducting undisguised troop maneuvers on the approaches to Tskhinvali, and bringing troops and heavy army up to the Georgian-Ossetian zone of conflict." The Russian side called on both parties of the conflict to show maximum restraint. Link

Reuters: Georgia, South Ossetia talk war after 6 die in clash (August 3, 2008)

Reuters reports that Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia was evacuating children to Russia and accused Georgia of targeting civilians after six people died overnight in a shootout with Georgian forces. The president of the separatist region, Eduard Kokoity, said he was ready to mobilize his region's men and take volunteers from the Russian republic of North Ossetia and other Caucasus republics to fight Georgia. Link
 

DPA: Efforts continue for Abkhaz talks (July 31, 2008)

Jens Ploetner, a German Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that Germany was closely involved in attempts to arrange high-level talks between the Georgian and the Abkhaz sides. Berlin remains a tentative venue for a meeting, but no date has yet been set, he added. An initial proposal envisaged holding a meeting in Berlin on 30-31 July failed to materialize as the Abkhaz side refused to attend. Link

RIA Novosti: Russian railroad troops leaving Abkhazia (July 30, 2008)

Russia has started to withdraw soldiers it sent to repair railways in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia. The spokesman for the railway troops, Ivan Boboshin, said that 150 soldiers had left the region this week and the rest would leave Abkhazia after a ceremony in the local capital Sukhumi. Link

Polish Radio - External Service: Poland urged Russia and Georgia to peacefully settle the conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (July 29, 2008)

Mariusz Handzlik, the director of the Polish President's Foreign Affairs Bureau, spoke out in favor of a peaceful settlement of the dispute between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He appealed to Russia to withdraw from actions taken last April, when President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian government to establish contacts with the separatist leaders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia received this as an attempt by Moscow to annex a part of its territory. Link

UN: Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, submits his report to the Security Council (July 29, 2008)

The UN Security Council is to discuss the newest report by Secretary Ban Ki-moon about the situation in Abkhazia region for the period of April 2 - July 14, 2008. According to the Secretary General, "after a period of relative stability in the winter, the last four months have witnessed a resurgence of tensions". According to the report as many as 32 countries have already dispatched their military observers to the region, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Russia. Link

The European Courier: Georgia vs. Russia (May 21, 2008) ÿ
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Read our interview with Amb. Irakli Alasania, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations in New York City about the Abkhazia crisis, Georgia’s peace initiatives, relations with Russia, NATO membership and the political role of the U.S. in Caucasus. Read more