NEWS: Georgia News Digest 04-19-08 Russian annexation edition

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

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1. Putin orders steps to improve strained ties with Georgia amid tension over separatist regions
2. Putin orders normalising of relations with Georgia amid spat
3. Russia moves toward open annexation of Abkhazia, South Ossetia
4. Moscow acts on its anti-NATO rhetoric
5. Developing Georgia's breakaway republics will benefit everyone
6. Quotes from Russian press
BBCM , April 18
Izvestiya (pro-Kremlin daily) www.izvestia.ru: "The reaction of Tbilisi and Washington to Vladimir Putin's intention to 'provide concrete help' to the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia turned out to be far more reserved than one could expect.
"It is not ruled out that Putin had in advance informed [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili and [US President] George Bush about his plans. He warned them that he could not leave Georgia's demonstrative aspiration to join NATO without response. Not to react, not to make any retaliatory step would mean that Russia would not only neglect its own geopolitical interests, but would fall on its face with regard to Kosovo.
"[from an article by Anatoliy Maksimov entitled "Will Kosovo help us?"]
Trud (left-leaning daily): "A new diplomatic war has broken out between Tbilisi and Moscow, and NATO, the EU and the UN are being drawn into it.
"In fact, Russia is taking specific steps towards the recognition of the self-proclaimed republics. In response, Tbilisi accused Russia of attempting to annex Georgian territories."

7. Tbilisi calls on international community to react as Russian ups ante in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
8. Georgia says 'no substance' to Russian offer on ties
9. Georgia demands UN SC meeting to discuss Russia’s policy
10. Quotes from Russian press
11. Moscow statements on Georgia aimed at mitigating intl community harsh reaction
12. Foreign Minister: Russia tries to mislead international community
13. Georgian minister links separatists' ultimatum to Russia's "open" support
14. Minister says conflict regions "test" for Georgian-Russian relations
15. Speaker urges for international reaction to Russia's actions
16. Speaker says Russia's policy damaging bilateral ties
17. Drop Abkhaz, S. Ossetia plans to improve ties with Tbilisi – Burjanadze to Moscow
18. Georgia seeks support from EU, NATO after Russia "crosses red line" with separatists
19. State Minister in Brussels for urgent talks
20. Russia using Georgia's separatists as "pawns"
21. Tbilisi ready for negotiations with Abkhaz, South Ossetian leaders
22. Georgian deputy PM seeks NATO, EU support in Brussels
23. Georgia angry at Russia's links with rebel regions
24. International reaction to Russia’s Abkhaz, S. Ossetian move
25. Rice tells Lavrov: U.S. concerned over Russia’s move
26. Lavrov stresses importance of Putin’s order to normalize relations with Georgia
27. Georgia's top diplomat to visit U.S. to discuss Russia
28. U.S. urges Russia to drop support for Georgian breakaway regions
29. U.S. DoD official visits Georgia
30. State Dept Press Releases
31. Statement by Hillary Clinton
32. U.S. and EU urge Russia to back off Georgia
33. U.S. urges Russia to repeal orders on Georgia
34. Russia should get a response: Moscow’s actions leave NATO concerned
35. PACE members: Russia undermining Georgia’s sovereignty
36. Carl Bildt concerned over Russia's recent decisions
37. Ukraine concerned over Russia's moves to boost ties with Georgian regions
38. Czech Republic supports Georgia in its dispute with Russia
39. Polish president sides with Tbilisi in Georgian-Russian dispute on Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
40. Polish president calls on Russia to respect Georgia's territorial integrity
41. France concerned over Russia decision to offer aid to Georgia regions
42. Lithuania reiterates support to Georgia
43. Lithuania may hold global forum in effort to rescue Georgia from annexation of territories
44. Echoes of the 1930s in Russia's sweeping annexation
45. Russia 2008: Determined to flex muscles
46. The Kremlin provides direct support to the unrecognized regime of Nagorno Karabakh
47. Examining Moscow motives in Georgia’s frozen conflicts
48. West won't restore Georgia's right to lost territories
49. Kokoyty ready to meet Georgian president, not minister of state
50. Peacekeepers in South Ossetia deployed in usual manner – commander
51. Georgia reinforces "military presence" near South Ossetia - separatist leader
52. Separatist official says Russia's move "nothing unexpected"
53. Sukhumi demand to withdraw Georgian troops from Kodori is threat – Bakradze
54. Georgia redeploys hundreds of soldiers in Kodori, Sukhumi insists on withdrawal
55. Pullout from Kodori necessary for resuming talks – Abkhazia
56. Tbilisi refutes Sukhumi reports that Georgian troops deployed in Kodori gorge
57. Georgia dismisses reports on stationing troops near Abkhazia
58. Tbilisi denies deploying troops in Abkhaz conflict zone
59. Defence Minister denies separatist leader's accusations
60. Russia holds all the cards in Abkhazia
61. Abkhazia again refuses to return under Georgian rule

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814