Author: Mamian George

PRESIDENT SAYS GEORGIA ON FRONTLINE OF STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

Channel 1
Sept 1 2008
Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, together with his wife and
two sons, joined the human chain on Freedom Square in Georgian capital
Tbilisi on 1 September. The human chain was organized in Tbilisi and
other towns throughout Georgia ahead of the EU summit in Brussels,
which is to discuss ways out of the recent Georgian-Russian armed
conflict. A bit later, Saakashvili addressed people assembled on
Freedom Square. His speech was broadcast live by the Georgian Public
Broadcaster and Rustavi-2 TV stations. Saakashvili said that Georgia
was "on the frontline of the struggle for freedom" and was "united
as never before". Recalling how Georgia survived "most dangerous
conquerors" in the past, Saakashvili said it would also survive the
"hordes of the 21st century", implying Russian troops that invaded
Georgia in August 2008. "Georgia fought and Georgia will continue
fighting," he said, noting that "for the first time in our history
we can say that Georgia is not alone.

The whole civilized world is with Georgia", and compared Georgia’s
"struggle for freedom" with "a struggle between justice and injustice,
between a major brutal force and a small but unbeaten nation, which
is clenched together as a fist. This is a struggle between David
and Goliath," he said. Saakashvili noted that the "brutal force and
these new hordes that entered Georgia decided to start the revival of
Russian imperialism from Georgia", stressing that "not only Russian
imperialism will be unable to win a victory in Georgia, but the Russian
imperial idea will be buried in Georgia once and for all. The empire
cannot revive, as Georgia will resist this," he said, pledging that
"Georgia will create a very beautiful and successful united country,
and Georgia, its multiethnic society, will certainly prevail together
with Europe and the rest of the civilized world". The following
is the text of Saakashvili’s speech broadcast live by the Georgian
Public Broadcaster (Channel One) on 1 September; subheadings have
been inserted editorially:

I am addressing the whole of Georgia, our citizens of all
ethnicities. I am addressing Azerbaijani Georgians, Armenian Georgians,
Jewish Georgians, Abkhaz Georgians, and our Ossetians. I am addressing
people of all ethnicities from all regions [of Georgia].

Georgia on frontline of struggle for freedom

Up to now, we have been proud of Georgia being a big nation, because
it survived millennia and innumerable conquerors, preserving its
nationality, statehood, and religion. Today, we can tell the entire
world that we are proud of our history, but we are most of all proud
of the present time, when Georgia is united as never before. More
than a million Georgians are on the streets today. [Applause; people
chanting "Misha! Misha!"]

This is the biggest gathering of people since [several words unclear],
velvet revolutions took place in Europe, and the Baltic nations stood
against the Russian and Soviet imperialism in the 1990s. Then too,
we saw hundreds of thousands of people, as well as bright eyes. Never
before have so many people assembled. Georgia is on the frontline of
the struggle for freedom again. We are fortifying the frontline of
freedom. [Applause; people chanting "Misha! Misha!"]

My dear people! The Georgians closed their united strong chain
today. I would like to tell you that, several months ago, I visited
Mount Athos, the holy soil of Athos in Greece and saw the hauberk
of Tornike Eristavi [10th-century Georgian nobleman and outstanding
military leader, who founded a monastery on Mount Athos]. I had
the opportunity and the honour to see and touch the hauberk of this
worthy patriot of ours. A new hauberk, which is big and strong as
never before, is being woven of this Georgian chain today. It is a
hauberk for Georgia, Europe, and freedom. [Applause; people chanting
"Misha! Misha!"]

Georgia standing united against "hordes of 21st century"

We stopped the hordes [Russian troops] moving towards
Tbilisi. Previously, Georgia survived Tamerlane’s numerous invasions,
as well as invasions by many most dangerous conquerors. The first
line for the protection of civilization, freedom, and independence
was in Georgia. Today, when the hordes of the 21st century came to
Georgia as in the past, Georgia is standing united. Georgia fought
and Georgia will continue fighting. Georgia is united. [Applause;
people chanting "Georgia! Georgia!"]

My dear people! I would like to tell you that not only our citizens
of various ethnicities are in this chain, but also Davit the Builder
[regarded as the most successful Georgian king – reigned in 1089-1125],
[5th-century Georgian King] Vakhtang Gorgasali, and Sulkhan-Sana
Orbeliani [1658-1725 – Georgian nobleman and diplomat, who tried to
gain European states’ support for Georgia against Muslim powers],
who wanted Georgia not to remain alone. For the first time in our
history we can say that Georgia is not alone. The whole civilized
world is with Georgia. Our struggle for freedom is a struggle between
justice and injustice, between a major brutal force and a small
but unbeaten nation, which is clenched together as a fist. This is
a struggle between David and Goliath. Like St George defeated the
unjust emperor with his spiritual strength and firmness, although the
emperor had an innumerable army, Georgia will also win a victory in
this unequal but very noble struggle. It will win a victory for our
future and the future of the entire free world. [Applause]

Georgia to build "humane society"

I would like to say that not only our struggle will not stop and the
chain will not disperse today, but it will grow and expand, because
Georgia has a long way to travel ahead. The struggle does not end
today. A big struggle is starting today. A struggle for uniting
and building a new country, which will be much more beautiful,
successful, modern, and civilized, which our future generations,
our great grandsons, and the rest of the world will be happy to
see. Our struggle is for taking care of all people, who have become
homeless. Some time ago, I met Mrs Mediko Jikia, who is a displaced
person from Sukhumi. She is not allowed to go to Sukhumi just because
she is an ethnic Georgian. Her husband and children were killed
in Sukhumi. She was here together with her grandsons. None of such
people will remain without homes and without being taken care of,
because Georgia’s further development is impossible without taking
care of, supporting, and aiding Mrs Jikia and people like her. We
should first and foremost be a humane society, which takes care of
the weak and vulnerable.

Our struggle continues and this is not a struggle for Georgia
alone. This brutal force and these new hordes that entered Georgia
decided to start the revival of Russian imperialism from Georgia. I
would like to tell them and the rest of the world on your behalf
that not only Russian imperialism will be unable to win a victory
in Georgia, but the Russian imperial idea will be buried in Georgia
once and for all. The empire cannot revive, as Georgia will resist
this. [Applause]

We are proud of the present. We are proud that we are united as
never before. If you allow me, I would like to declare 1 September
day of Georgia’s unity, when Georgia is standing united as never
before. [Applause; people chanting "Georgia! Georgia!"]

Tbilisi "new gate of freedom"

I would like to tell all freedom-loving nations that are standing
beside us and Europe: take a look at this ocean of people and more
than a million of our citizens of all ethnicities. It is time now for
Europe to extend its hand to us. Take a look at the European flags
flying here. We are the country of the Golden Fleece and Argonauts. We
are an ancient country of Christian civilization. We are a magnificent
example of unity and joint life of all ethnic and religious groups. We
are a unique example of good-neighbourly relations, brotherhood,
and peace. At the same time, as never before, the fate of Europe
and civilization, the gates of freedom, and the problem of freedom
are being decided in Tbilisi, which is a new boundary. Tbilisi is
a new gate of freedom, which the enemy of freedom will be unable to
break. Freedom is starting its great upsurge here in Tbilisi, Georgia,
from Freedom Square and under the guidance of St George, who is here
in front of us [reference to St George’s monument erected on Freedom
Square]. [Applause; people chanting "Georgia! Georgia!"]

Sisters and brothers! My dear people! My compatriots! I would
like to address everyone. I would like to address the rest of the
world. Georgia was attacked in a very unjust manner. Hundreds of
thousands of Georgians and people of other ethnicities – Ukrainians,
Jews, Estonians, Russians, Abkhaz, and Ossetians – were evicted from
their homes just because they wanted to be united and free and just
because they wanted to live in a normal democratic country. I would
like to tell everyone that this injustice will be unable to win a
victory. I would like to tell about 500,000 people of all ethnicities
displaced from Abkhazia that this injustice will be unable to win
a victory. We will without fail return to our homes. I would like
to tell people evicted from Tskhinvali that injustice cannot win
a victory and we will without fail return to our homes. We will
evict injustice and the brutal force, together with the rest of
the world. Through our peaceful struggle and our standing together,
our calmness, firmness, democracy, and freedom, we will definitely
defeat those, who are afraid of freedom as of plague, who want to
enslave freedom-loving nations, who want to build new walls in Europe,
and who want to see a new Berlin wall in Georgia. No new walls can be
erected in Georgia. We will stand together and we will do all we can
to prevent Georgia and Europe from being returned to the thick gloom,
to the lack of freedom, and to the era of violence, which we have got
out of. We will definitely reach the place of safety. We, the Georgian
people, will stand hand in hand with other nations in the world and
will without fail reach the place of safety together. [Applause]

Georgia enjoys broad support throughout world

My dear people! I would like to welcome all the nations standing beside
us. I would like to welcome the Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis, Armenians,
the Baltic countries, the United States, the EU, France, which is the
EU president, Germany, whose chancellor came here and supported us at
the very beginning, and all those who are standing on European squares
at this moment – in Stockholm, Munich, Berlin, London, and Prague. I
would like to welcome the former Czech president, legendary Vaclav
Havel, who declared his solidarity with us. All of us together will
wave here in Georgia the flag of what Havel has initiated. [Applause]

I want to greet our compatriots who are left in Russia and tell them:
do not be afraid of anything. You have seen that nothing could scare
Georgia. Freedom and common sense will prevail. I want to tell everyone
that Georgia is no-one’s enemy, nor is it the enemy of the Russian
people. But we are an enemy of everyone, who crosses our border,
who bombs our towns and who constantly tries to destroy our freedom
and trample our honour and all principles of freedom underfoot. We
will always resist these people.

"Peaceful resistance" to continue

I want to tell everyone that as long as there is one occupier on this
side of the Psou [River dividing Georgia and Russia in Abkhazia],
as long as there is one occupier on this side of the Roki [tunnel
connecting South Ossetia with Russia’s North Ossetia], as long as our
people are not allowed to return to their homes, as long as people
are being detained, killed and humiliated in every way, Georgia will
not stop resisting, Georgia will never surrender, Georgia will never
fold up its five-cross flag. [Applause]

We will continue our peaceful resistance in our towns, our villages,
and our streets. We will stand together and we will say: violence
shall not prevail, imperialism shall not prevail, and all insults
to freedom will ultimately fail. Our dignity shall not be trampled
underfoot. Our historic flag, the five-cross flag we are so proud
of, which is also the flag of Europe and which is now a symbol of
unbreakableness and standing together for the world, for Europe, for
civilization, and for freedom, shall forever fly and forever oppose
violence, forever oppose the enemies of freedom, forever oppose those
who wish to subdue the rest of the world and trample it underfoot. Long
live our battle for freedom! [Applause]

And I want to tell everyone that Georgia is not a country that does not
appreciate other ethnic groups. Our wealth is in our ethnic diversity,
our wealth is in the fact that our greatest king, Davit the Builder,
would go to synagogues and mosques in addition to of course pray in
church. For many centuries, we have been praying in our churches, for
many centuries we have been going to synagogues, for many centuries
we have been going to mosques and for many centuries we have spoken
in different languages and dialects, but nonetheless the Georgian
people has existed as a single entity for several thousand of years,
as a single unit that today has stood up for the whole world to see
and is asking the world for help and support. [Applause]

And when people of all ethnicities gather together, when people of
all confessions gather together, when our past and our present gather
together so that we all together can go towards the future, when our
national soul has been revived as never before, when our unity sets an
example for the rest of the world, we must tell everyone that Georgia
will keep fighting, Georgia will keep fighting peacefully for its
reunification. Georgia will never again fall to its knees. Georgia
will stand fully upright, Georgia will create a very beautiful and
successful united country, and Georgia, its multiethnic society,
will certainly prevail together with Europe and the rest of the
civilized world.

I want to greet our warriors. I want to greet those who spilt blood
and fell for Georgia. I want to greet representatives of all political
groups, who today are standing together here in Georgia. We are not
divided into politicians [of different camps], we are not divided
into the government and the opposition, we are not divided according
to our blood type, we all share the same beating heart, we all want
most of all to give our children, our future generations a normal
and peaceful country so that they can live in humane conditions and
to be allowed to develop and integrate with Europe, live like people,
as we have dreamt of doing for so long. And no-one will ever be able
to return us to where we were before and from which we have emerged
with difficulty; we barely managed to cross this Rubicon.

So I want to tell you: all of us will stand together, all of us will
be steadfast, all of us will be strong, all of us will be successful
and all of us will be victorious. Long live united, free, independent,
strong, European, and victorious Georgia!

BAKO SAHAKIAN: INDEPENDENCE OF ARTSAKH IS NOT SUBJECT TO BARGAINING

Noyan Tapan

Se p 1, 2008

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The President of the NKR Bako
Sahakian made an address in connection with the day of the Nagorno
Karabagh Republic. The text of the address was submitted to NT by the
Central Information Department of the Office of th NKR President. It
reads:

"Dear compatriots,

On September the 2nd we celebrate the day of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, a holiday which has a special significance for our
nation. On this very day a new chapter in the history of Artsakh
was opened. It became the commencement of restoration of independent
Armenian statehood.

17 years ago the people of Artsakh set about to realize their
century-long dream of a building free and independent, democratic
and social state. This extremely difficult path we have been able to
overcome due to the unbreakable will, unity and cohesion. Artsakh
has become the symbol of rebirth of the triumphant spirit of the
Armenian people.

In the course of recent years we have succeeded both to reconstruct
the economy ruined by war and but also to lay a solid foundation
for further development of the state. Deepening and strengthening
Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora relations, combining efforts and potential
of world-spread Armenians, we have begun to find effective solutions
to various problems our republic faces, improve living standards of
the population and develop construction and infrastructures.

Today we can proudly state that we have a strong and efficient army,
a harmoniously developing country that meets international norms and
standards and is considered to be one of the key factors of stability
in the region.

We should always remember what price has been paid for the present
free and peaceful life, what losses and hardship our nation suffered on
its way to independence. The best sons of the nation gave their lives
to the defense of the Motherland. Everlasting glory and honor to them!

We are obliged to fulfill the cherished dream of our martyrs: gain
international recognition of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic and leave
for the generations to come strong and independent, peaceful and
prosperous Motherland. Be confident, it is a matter of time!

The NKR authorities are committed to the idea that conflicts should
be settled exclusively by peaceful means through direct and frank
dialogue.

Everybody should realize once and forever that the independence of
Artsakh has no alternative and is not subject to bargaining.

Dear people of Artsakh, I cordially congratulate all of us on this
symbolic holiday and wish good health, happiness and further success
to the glory of the bright and serene future of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic."

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES KEEP 15,000 ETHNIC OSSETIANS AT CHECKPOINTS, USE THEM FOR PROPAGANDA

Regnum
Sept 1 2008
Russia

Russia has initiated cooperation with the Georgian side at the border
checkpoints, facilitating return of residents of South and North
Ossetia who are currently in Georgia to their homes. Russian Foreign
Ministry’s representative Andrey Nesterenko informed journalists of
the situation at a briefing in Moscow Sep 1, 2008, REGNUM correspondent
reports.

According to the diplomat, Russia’s efforts have brought results: about
1,000 Russian citizens have returned home through the Verkhny Lars
checkpoint. Still, up to 15,000 Russian citizens, ethnic Ossetians,
remain in the territory of Georgia. They have difficulties in returning
home and are looking for ways to do it through the territories
of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, Nesterenko stated. Tbilisi is
using the civilians in a political propaganda show, keeping them
at checkpoints.

"Tbilisi wants to make the puppet government of Dmitry Sanakoyev
a guarantor of the ethnic Ossetians’ returning home. We have been
informed that the Georgian border control officers do not let Ossetians
through their checkpoints until a Sanakoyev’s groups arrive," the
Russian MFA envoy said. Russia is concerned with the Georgia’s attempts
to win some propaganda points by using the problem, Nesterenko stated.

THE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE DAY…

Azat Artsakh Daily
01 Sep 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

Dear compatriots, On September the 2nd we celebrate the day of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, a holiday which has a special significance
for our nation. On this very day a new chapter in the history of
Artsakh was opened. It became the commencement of restoration of
independent Armenian statehood. 17 years ago the people of Artsakh
people set about to realize their century-long dream of building
free and independent, democratic and social state. This extremely
difficult path we have been able to overcome due to the unbreakable
will, unity and cohesion. Artsakh has become the symbol of rebirth
of the triumphant spirit of the Armenian people. In the course of
recent years we have succeeded both to reconstruct the economy ruined
by war and but also to lay solid foundation for further development
of the state. Deepening and strengthening Artsakh-Armenia-Diaspora
relations, combining efforts and potential of world-spread Armenians,
we have begun to find effective solutions various problems our
republic faces, improve living standards of the population and develop
construction and infrastructures. Today we can proudly state about
strong and efficient army, harmoniously developing country that meets
international norms and standards and is considered to be one of the
key factors of stability in the region. We should always remember
what price has been paid for the present free and peaceful life,
what losses and hardship our nation did suffered on its way to
independence. The best sons on the nation gave their lives to the
defense of the Motherland. Everlasting glory and honor and to them!
We are obliged to fulfill the cherished dream of our martyrs and
gain international recognition of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic and
leave for the generations to come strong and independent, peaceful
and prosperous Motherland. Be confident, it is a matter of time!
The NKR authorities are committed to the idea that conflicts
should be settled exclusively by peaceful means through direct
and frank dialogue. Everybody should realize once and forever that
the independence of Artsakh has no alternative and is not subject
to speculations. Dear people of Artsakh, I cordially congratulate
all of us on this symbolic holiday and wish good health, happiness
and further success to the glory of the bright and serene future of
the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.

TURKEY CALLS FOR CAUCASUS PEACE GROUP

press tv
Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:47:23 GMT

The Caucasus comprises Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and south Russia.

Turkey has proposed the formation of a regional cooperation group to
stabilize the Caucasus region following the Georgia-Russia conflict.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Sunday that the proposed
group would include Turkey and four nearby Caucasus nations including
Russia, Georgia.

Babacan detailed the proposal during a visit to Turkey by Georgian
Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili, who said Georgia would only
consider joining such a group after Russian forces leave her country.

The Caucasia Cooperation and Stability Platform would also include
Armenia and Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan, two South Caucasus nations that
are locked in a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, Babacan said.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces
since a six-year conflict that erupted in the waning days of the
Soviet Union. Some 30,000 people were killed and about 1 million
driven from their homes before a cease-fire was reached in 1994.

Persistent gunfire along the Azerbaijan-Armenian border and in regions
near Nagorno-Karabakh has raised fears of a new war. Turkey has no
diplomatic ties with Armenia and the Turkish-Armenian border has been
closed for years.

Turkey objects to Armenian forces’ occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh. While Armenia insists the deaths of about 1.5
million ethnic Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th
century should be recognized as genocide.

Turkey says the number is inflated and that killings were result of
civil war.

Babacan said he had discussed the cooperation group with his Azeri
counterpart, and that a Turkish delegation would visit Armenia this
week for talks about the proposed pact.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will also visit Turkey on
Tuesday to discuss Turkey’s proposal, Babacan said.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER BELIEVES TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLE PRIOR IN SETTLEMENT OF REGIONAL CONFLICTS

arminfo
2008-08-26 14:24:00

ArmInfo. Principles of territorial integrity and inviolability of
internationally recognized borders must become prior in settlement of
regional conflicts, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadryarov
said at a meeting with Mike Hancock, Vice- Chairman of Political
Affairs Committee of the Assembly of WEU Monday, Novosti- Azerbaijan
reports.

He said Nagorny Karabakh conflict is the key problem of Azerbaijan
that is interested in good neighbored relations with the states in
the region.

In their turn, the foreign delegation expressed willingness of the
Assembly of WEU delegation to visit Azerbaijan on 14-17 September
to prepare a report on the topic ‘Caspian Sea and European Security’
to raise public awareness of the problems of the Caspian Sea states.

Monday, August 25, 2008
Updated at 24 August 2008 23:15 Moscow Time.
The Moscow Times
Mikhail Metzel / AP
East-West Artery Reopens in Georgia

25 August 2008By Nikolaus von Twickel / Staff WriterTBILISI, Georgia —
Traffic gradually began to trickle along Georgia’s main east-west highway
over the weekend, after the departure of Russian troops who had been barring
traffic on the road and, effectively, cutting the country in half.

A reporter traveling by car from the Black Sea port of Poti to Tbilisi saw
that the last remaining checkpoints east and west of Gori on the highway, a
lifeline for the South Caucasus, had been opened, after barring traffic
along the road for almost a fortnight.

The crisis in Georgia continued to simmer over the weekend despite a
significant reduction in the number of Russian troops and Moscow’s
announcement that it had fulfilled its obligations as spelled out in a
cease-fire agreement.

Tbilisi and the West sharply criticized a Kremlin announcement that 2,500
soldiers would continue to man two buffer zones outside South Ossetia’s and
Abkhazia’s borders with Georgia proper and demanded a complete withdrawal.

They accused Moscow of unilaterally taking control of a giant swath of
western Georgia, far from the conflict zone in South Ossetia, and having
prolonged its stranglehold on the country’s economy with its continued
control of the east-west highway.

Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov told President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday
evening that Russian troops had completed their pullback and that Moscow had
fulfilled its obligations under the cease-fire agreement brokered by French
President Nicolas Sarkozy, a statement on the president’s official web site
said.

Russian troops pulled back from the central city of Gori, the Senaki
military base in western Georgia and the eastern checkpoint of Igoeti, but
retained checkpoints near both Gori and Senaki.

At a checkpoint near Agara, about 30 kilometers east of Khashuri along the
east-west highway, a cheerful Russian lieutenant let through two cars with
journalists but not without an act of dubious hospitality.

An old villager in an ancient Moskvich car loaded with peaches was headed in
the opposite direction. The officer, who refused to give his name,
approached the driver shouting, "Father, give the journalists some of your
fruit."

Before the helpless man could react, the checkpoint commander began removing
peaches through the car’s open windows and handing them to the bewildered
journalists and their drivers.

Many of the fields along the road from Khashuri to Gori were still burning
or scorched. The Georgian government has accused Russian forces of setting
them on fire, but this could not be confirmed independently.

Russian peacekeepers had constructed a large outpost just north of the key
Black Sea port of Poti, between to vital access bridges to the city.

By Friday, it had been bolstered by armored vehicles dug into the field
between the bridges. Above them flew a large Russian flag and a small CIS
variant. Peacekeepers also maintained a second post in woods north of the
city. "Poti is not in the security zone," Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief
of the Russian General Staff, said Saturday, RIA-Novosti reported. "But that
doesn’t mean that we will sit behind the fence and watch as they drive
around in Hummers."

He was referring to the confiscation by Russian troops of five U.S. military
Humvees last week as they waited in Poti to be shipped home.

The U.S. destroyer McFaul, carrying humanitarian aid, had to be redirected
to Batumi, which has no deep-sea port, The Associated Press reported. The
navy had been forced to ferry the supplies to shore in smaller craft.

Nogovitsyn said at a Friday briefing that 2,142 Russian soldiers would man
checkpoints in western Georgia and another 452 in region around South
Ossetia. He also said the number of troops might grow.

"We reserve the right to increase our forces if necessary," he said.

According to a map he showed reporters, the security zone around South
Ossetia would twice cross the highway past the central town of Gori, thus
giving Russian forces control over the vital transport route, which serves
as a lifeline to landlocked Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Nogovitsyn said some checkpoints would be placed on major roads "so that we
can control all traffic flows [to the region]."

The Defense Ministry said the measures were legal and that Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has labeled the zones as "unacceptable,"
had no right to complain.

"We will not ask Mr. Saakashvili about the buffer zones," Nogovitsyn said.
"With this aggression, this president unilaterally breached the existing
agreements," he said, referring to Georgia’s attack on the South Ossetian
capital Tskhinvali on Aug. 7.

"He now has no moral or legal right to dictate conditions," he added.

Georgian Reintegration Minister Temur Iakobashvili said in an interview in
his Tbilisi office Sunday that the maps the General Staff displayed at the
Saturday news conference did not jive with existing agreements.

"That map is invalid because, after Russia invaded Georgia, all previous
agreements are in the trash bin," Iakobashvili said. He said an explanatory
letter provided by Sarkozy had stipulated that the Russians would have the
right to patrol a 15-kilometer radius around Tskhinvali.

He admitted that Georgia was in no position to pressure Moscow on the issue
but was optimistic that the West would step in to do this.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe on Saturday said, "Putting up
permanent facilities and checkpoints are inconsistent with the agreement,"
Reuters reported.

U.S. President George W. Bush discussed the withdrawal with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, who brokered the cease-fire, and they "agreed that Russia
is not in compliance and that Russia needs to come into compliance now,"
Johndroe said, The Associated Press reported.

German government spokesman Thomas Steg said Germany now expects Russia to
complete its pullout immediately and withdraw to the lines held before
hostilities started earlier this month.

Sarkozy’s office said he and Medvedev agreed Saturday on the urgent need to
create an international mechanism under the auspices of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe to replace Russian patrols in the buffer
zone south of South Ossetia, Reuters reported.

A statement on Medvedev’s web site, however, said replacing Russian
peacekeepers had not been discussed.

An OSCE monitor, Terhi Hakala, said Sunday that around 15 OSCE monitors are
waiting to go into South Ossetia via Georgia but that they are not able to
enter until they receive security guarantees from the Russian peacekeepers.

The monitors expect to enter in 10 to 14 days, she said.

Natalya Krainova and Anna Malpas contributed to this report from Moscow.

World Markets Research Centres
Global Insight
August 22, 2008

July Brings No Easing to Persistently Brisk Armenian GDP Growth

by Venla Sipila

The Armenian economy continues to power on, posting double-digit
growth rates. Indeed, according to the latest figures from the
National Statistical Service quoted by ARMNIFO, the country’s GDP
expanded by 10.6% year-on-year (y/y) over the January-July
period. This result signals some speeding up in annual growth in July,
as the first half had seen GDP rise by 10.3% y/y. In particular,
retail trade increased by 6.1% y/y, while service supply (excluding
domestic trade) soared by 15% y/y and construction output rose by 14%
y/y. Meanwhile, production in the agricultural sector grew by a lower
but still respectable rate of 6.9% y/y. Industrial output rose by 1.8%
y/y for the first seven months of the year, with, specifically,
electricity generation gaining 2.7% y/y. Nevertheless, while remaining
weak in comparison with the other sectors, industrial output revived
over July after contracting by 0.3% y/y in the first half. Measured
month-on-month (m/m), Armenia’s GDP surged by 21.4%, notably boosted
by a strong seasonal boost from agricultural output and solid
construction activity.

Significance:The latest data confirm that this year may see annual
growth reaching double digits once again. However, they also give
further support to concerns over overheating, as continued rapid
growth of domestic demand is contributing to inflation pressures and
deepening the wide trade deficit.

LUXURY

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
22 Aug 2008
Armenia

According to Hamlet Harutyunyan: "No one has the right to forbid
Robert Kocharyan from being engaged in something he prefers. It is
the Constitutional Right of not only Robert Kocharyan but also any
other RA citizen.

The country’s third President has already announced at the end of his
term of office that he is not planning to give up active life. His
capabilities, his service gives him complete right to be engaged in
active politics.

Moreover it will be a luxury for us if a person with so much experience
takes a passive role in the solution of the problems faced by our
country."

RUSSIA’S RECOGNITION OF INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTH OSSTIA AND ABKHAZIA CAN PARALYZE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL EXPERTS

Trend News Agency
Aug 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 August/ TrendNews, corr I. Alizade/ The political
experts of Azerbaijan believe that Russia’s recognition of independence
of South Osstia and Abkhazia can paralyze international relations.

"The recent moves by Moscow and its recognition of independence of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia contradicts Russia’s national interests,
it is an emotional step and can cause serious problems in the
international community," Vafa Guluzade, the political expert said
to TrendNews.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia autonomous republics of Georgia broke away
in 1990 and declared their independence. The international community
have not recognized their independence yet. Sergey Mironov, speaker
of Russia’s Council of Federation said that the Upper Chamber of
the parliament is prepared to recognize the independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia. Mironov said that the will of the population
of self-declared republics is important with this regard. If the
people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia wish so, Russia is prepared to
recognize their independence.

If Moscow resumes ‘cold war’ with US and NATO, it can destroy Russia.

"There are a lot of autonomies in Russia and they can also demand
independence. If Russia recognizes the independence of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia, this will give a rise to this process within its own
territory," the political expert said.

Aydin Mirzazade, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE and
MP said to TrendNews that if Russia recognizes independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, it will make the biggest mistake in its history.

"Such a move can create a negative precedent all over the world. Given
the frequent separatist trends in Russia’s territory, this precedent
can one day be used against Moscow itself," Mirzazade said.

"The decision by Kremlin not coordinated with the international
community can lead to the sanctions against Russia and revival of
‘cold war’ of 1950s and 1960s," he added.

The political expert also said that such a move by Russia calls into
question the activities of the UN Security Council. Because each
state is recognized by the decision of the Security Council. "Russia’s
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence will violate
key principles of UN which cause serious crisis in UN. Therefore,
I hope that this is inaccurate statement by the Russian official,"
he said.

The political expert Rasim Musabayov said to TrendNews that if the
confrontation between Russia and West goes on, Moscow is likely to
recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"But this possible move by Russia will not be left without
response. Russia will be banished from all international organizations
excluding OSCE. Moscow will not have any international relations at
all," Musabayov said.

Azerbaijan may also suffer from this move by Kremlin. It can
necessitate the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia and
Russia. Therefore, this move by Moscow can create problems in
Russia-Azerbaijan relations, he said.