NEWS: Georgia News Digest 08-09-08 (pdf)

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A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

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Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)

Major news reports
1. Time line: Georgia-Ossetia armed conflict, August 8-9
2. video: Saakashvili interview (Bloomberg TV)
3. video: Interview with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili (CNN)
4. Georgia on brink of war with Russia
5. Russian tanks cross into South Ossetia
6. War breaks out in South Ossetia
7. Georgian army moves to retake South Ossetia
8. Medvedev vows punishment for killers of Russians in S. Ossetia
9. Georgia calls second ceasefire, conference call with Lado Gurgenidze
10. audio: Georgia-Russia conflict escalates over separatists (NPR)
11. video: Russian tanks enter South Ossetia (BBC)
12. S Ossetia bitterness turns to conflict
13. video: South Ossetian villages shelled by heavy artillery (RIAN)
14. video: Assault on Tskhinvali: How it was (RIAN)
15. audio: Georgia-Russia conflict escalates over separatists (NPR)
16. video: Russian tanks enter South Ossetia (BBC)
17. audio: Georgia-Russia conflict escalates over separatists (NPR)
18. audio: Georgian forces launch South Ossetia offensive (NPR)
19. video: Fierce fighting in breakaway Georgia republic (CNN)
20. video: Russian tanks enter South Ossetia (Guardian)
21. Russia sends forces into Georgian rebel conflict
22. video: Georgia says Russian aircraft bombed its air bases (AP)
23. Russia marches into South Ossetia
24. video: Gallery of reports and interviews
25. Georgian looses control of South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali
26. Fighting in South Ossetia sparks fears of humanitarian crisis
27. 'Impossible to count' bodies in breakaway province
28. Georgia resumes shelling in South Ossetia as UN SC discusses crisis
29. video: Russia on verge of all-out war (Sky News)
30. Fierce fighting reported in Georgia after Russian troop surge
31. Georgia says Russia at war
32. Russia sends tanks into Georgia
33. video: Russia and Georgia clash over separatist region (NY Times)
34. Putin says `war has started,' Georgia claims invasion
35. 'If we get the call, every man who can stand on two legs will fight'
36. Villagers flee shelling as fighting for capital intensifies
37. Georgia conflict escalates as Russia sends reinforcements
38. Russia turns might of its war machine on rebel neighbour Georgia
39. We are at war with Russia, declares Georgian leader
40. video: Russian troops arrive in Tskhinvali to support peacekeepers (Russia Today)
41. video: Shelling of South Ossetia capital stopped (Russia Today)
42. video: Georgia says it controls most of South Ossetia
43. Fighting in Caucasus intensifies
44. It's war; 1,400 are feared killed
45. President Medvedev vowed to punish the killers of Russians in South Ossetia
46. Georgia reports new air attack near capital
47. Fighting in South Ossetia sparks fears of humanitarian crisis
48. Georgia, Russia plunged into war; Russian tanks invade province of former Soviet republic
49. Russian politicians warn against interference in South Ossetia
International response
50. In quotes: Strife in Georgia
51. EU demands an immediate stop to the violence, U.S. wants Russia to stop it
52. The need for an immediate end to hostilities in South Ossetia
53. Solana launches diplomatic efforts to stop escalation of violence in S. Ossetia
54. EU striving for South Ossetia ceasefire
55. Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis: Protect the civilian population in Georgia
56. Statement by Presidency of Council of the European Union on the deterioration of the situation in South Ossetia
57. Georgia, Russia sparred over South Ossetia at OSCE
58. Russia sends note to Nato countries over Georgian aggression against S. Ossetia
59. Russian envoy to NATO sends official note on S Ossetia to Western counterparts
60. At UN, Georgia claims Russia spreads conflict to Abkhazia, renouncing force rejected
61. video: UN inaction fuels military conflict – Russia (Russia Today)
62. video: No UN deal over Georgia (Reuters)
63. video: UN postpones Ossetia decision; Georgia considers martial law (France 24)
64. UN SC fails to make decision on South Ossetia
65. Security Council fails to agree on statement on hostilities in South Ossetia
66. Security Council holds emergency meeting in response to RF's request as crisis escalates in South Ossetia
67. OHCHR urges restraint and safeguards for civilians in South Ossetia conflict
68. Thousands reported on the move in South Ossetia
69. ICRC calls on parties to respect international humanitarian law
70. World Vision calling for ceasefire, protection of civilians
71. State Dept. daily press briefing
72. Saakashvili talks with Rice, Nato Secretary General, Lithuanian President
73. Saakashvili appeals to US as Russian military units enter Georgia
74. Russia move into Georgia: Statement by Secretary Condoleezza Rice
75. Bush meets Putin over Georgia fighting
76. video: Richard Holbrooke points to Russian aggression, expansion in South Ossetian conflict (CNN)
77. U.S. pushes truce in Caucasus fighting
78. Lawmakers condemn Russian incursion into Georgia, call for talks
79. US tells Russia to halt attacks in South Ossetia
80. USA accuse South Ossetia of worsening the situation but call on Georgia to cease fire
81. US military trainers not involved in Georgia conflict
82. McCain calls for Russia to pull out of Georgia
83. McCain, Obama decry violence in Georgia
84. McCain and Obama weigh in on move to war between Russia and Georgia
85. McCain urges Russia to halt action in Georgia
86. McCain takes harder anti-Russia line than White House
87. Top McCain adviser lobbied for nation of Georgia
88. Scheunemann helped U.S. firm win Georgian energy deals while lobbying for Georgia’s NATO membership»
89. Obama urges restraint by Russia and Georgia
90. Lithuanian FM questions Russian peacekeepers' capacity to keep peace in South Ossetia
91. Russia exercising aggression, implementing familiar scenario in South Ossetia - Lithuanian diplomat
92. Lithuania: Political scientists construe differently impact of military conflict on Georgia's Nato bid
93. Lithuania: Parlt panel to gather in extraordinary meeting over situation in Georgia
94. South Ossetia under Russia’s undeclared war against Georgia -- Georgian ambassador to Lithuania
95. Lithuanian FM to go to Georgia Friday
96. Lithuania: Conservatives urge FM to declare protest to Russian ambassador re situation in Georgia
97. Latvian NGOs call Latvian government to support Georgia
98. Latvian FM not to urge Latvian residents to refrain from visiting Georgia at present
99. Latvian FM calls to solve conflict in South Ossetia in negotiations
100. Latvian FM calls to solve conflict in South Ossetia in negotiations
101. Russia's intervention will not help solve South Ossetia conflict - Estonian president
102. Estonia calls to stop hostilities in South Ossetia
103. Estonian parlt foreign affairs panel to meet over South Ossetia
104. Estonian border guard puts off officers' visit to Georgia
105. Polish president says "meddling" in Georgia's internal affairs inadmissible
106. Polish, Georgian presidents discuss South Ossetia
107. Ministry warns Ukrainians against travelling to Georgia via Russia
108. Ukraine admits it supplied weapons to Georgia
109. Ukraine sends envoy to Tbilisi
110. German foreign minister calls for stopping threats, violence in S-Ossetia
111. Germany urges restraint in South Ossetia
112. Italian foreign ministry says ready to evacuate Italians from Georgia
113. Foreign Office urges ceasefire as Russia bombs S. Ossetia
114. Turkey urges cease-fire in South Ossetia
115. Crisis calls for urgent Turkish mediation in Caucasus
116. Turkey agrees to supply Georgia electricity
117. RA MFA: Armenia concerned about hostilities in South Ossetia
118. Canada calls for end to fighting in Georgian region
119. Israel backs Georgia in Caspian oil pipeline battle with Russia
120. Moldova's rebel region supports South Ossetia
121. Chechnya ready to help South Ossetia
122. Georgia made mistake by failing to inform on higher tensions around South Ossetia – Nazarbayev
123. Olympians regret fighting in Georgia at start of Games
124. China calls for S. Ossetia ceasefire
125. Switzerland calls for end to South Ossetia violence
Backgrounders
126. A decade of cross-border strife
127. What is Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region?
128. Georgia and Russia's worsening relations
129. Conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia
130. Questions answered on Russia, Georgia conflict
131. video: Georgia vs. South Ossetia: Roots of a 100-year conflict (Russia Today)
132. Georgia's importance as an energy transit state
Other news items
133. Georgia violence hurts Russian, emerging markets
134. Russia’s market collapsed on war in South Ossetia
135. Stocks hit as Georgian-Ossetian conflict threatens to turn into all-out war
136. Galt & Taggart comment on conflict in South Ossetia
137. Separatist violence to have limited near-term effect on macro, investment environment
138. S&P cuts Georgia's credit ratings on conflict with Russia
139. Fitch lowers Georgia's debt ratings to B+
140. Media Center opened in Gori in regard to state of emergency in Tskhinvali region
141. RIA Novosti disseminates another disinformation
142. On the morning of August 8 fire was commenced against Georgian journalists in Tskhinvali Region
143. Georgian Government responds disinformation by Russian media
144. Russia to continue guaranteeing security for Caucasus residents –Medvedev
145. Russia TV uses unscheduled news bulletin to accuse Georgia of "aggression"
146. Medvedev orders humanitarian aid for South Ossetia
147. Tskhinvali death toll reaches over 1,000
148. Georgia cancels flights to Europe, except for Turkey and Ukraine
149. Statement of the Government of Georgia regarding the situation in the South Ossetia region of Georgia
150. Kremlin banned quoting of information by Georgian media in relation with events in the Tskhinvali region 151. Sugar, spice, pronouncers, and everything nice
152. Georgia president to declare martial law, after 1500 killed
153. Russia sending more troops to Georgian region
154. Russian DM airmobile hospital ready to take wounded peacekeepers
155. 'I saw bodies lying on the street'
156. Georgia's aggression against S. Ossetia will provoke a reaction – Putin
157. Tskhinvali dialog possible only after peace restored in full - Georgian PM
158. Credit of trust undermined in Georgia as committed party in talks – Churkin
159. Georgia urges intl community to respond to Russia’s actions
160. Georgia wipes five S. Ossetian settlements out
161. Reservists' general mobilization declared by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili
162. Melua's fears for Georgian family
163. Ossetian village after bombing by Georgian forces — photo report
164. A tent town pitched in front of Georgia’s embassy in Moscow
165. Georgian soldiers finish off Russia’s wounded peace-keepers
166. Sergey Lavrov: Georgia carries out ethnic cleansing of South Ossetia
167. Georgia to impose martial law, port bombed
168. Statement by Dmitry Medvedev on the situation in South Ossetia
169. Saakashvili makes last mistake in his political career – Rogozin
170. video: The battle for South Ossetia years in the making (euronews)
171. Georgia says it has lost sections of S. Ossetia capital
172. Zhirinovskiy calls for tough measures against Georgia
173. Border guard ceases search of missing Latvian climbers
174. Georgia gives grounds to consider S Ossetia independence –Mironov
175. Russia appeals to Georgian leaders to "come to their senses"
176. North Ossetia steps up security, calls for trial of Georgian leader
177. Armed Cossacks pour in to fight Georgians: Neighbours mobilise in anger at Tblisi's attack on enclave
178. Duma speaker says Russia to act in compliance with int'l law on S Ossetia
179. South Ossetia clash threatens oil supplies
180. Georgian parliament urges ethnic Ossetians not to engage in military hostilities
181. All U.S. trainers in Georgia accounted for
182. Russian deputy speaker accuses Georgia of genocide
183. Pro-Kremlin pundit says Georgia planning "ethnic cleansing"
184. PM: South Ossetia action to continue "until we achieve our aim"
185. video: Civilians flee Georgian conflict (Reuters)
Abkhazia
186. Will there be a second front?
187. Abkhazia to help S Ossetia in confrontation with Georgia
188. Abkhazia calls Georgia action against S Ossetia barbaric aggression
189. Abkhazia minister says Georgian operation in S Ossetia will flop
190. Peacekeepers in Abkhazia alerted
191. Abkhazian armed forces on alert
192. Abkhazia ready to assist "brotherly" Ossetians against Georgia
193. Abkhazia threatens Georgia with second front
194. Spontaneous rally in Sukhumi condemns Georgian aggression
Opinions and analysis
195. Kokoity vs. Baghapsh: Who’s better?
196. Reality and illusions in South Ossetia
197. Georgia shows maximum restraint: Direct talks between Parties should be held
198. Why the Russia-Georgia conflict matters to the West
199. Security experts on South Ossetia fighting
200. The August canons: The Georgian invasion of South Ossetia: A way to instigate Russian involvement?
201. South Ossetia crisis could be Russia’s chance to defeat Siloviki
202. Georgia takes gamble with move on rebels
203. Georgia makes a power play -- and a big gamble
204. A mirror for heroes
205. The day of reckoning in Georgia
206. Did the U.S. prep Georgia for war with Russia?
207. How the Caucasus erupted
208. Ground zero in the new Caucus conflict
209. audio: Georgian/Russian conflict (AirTalk)
210. The goals behind Moscow’s proxy offensive in South Ossetia
211. Georgia's fait accompli failed
212. Mikhail Saakashvili banked on Russia not having will to fight
213. Russia turns might of its war machine on rebel neighbour Georgia
214. Georgia in pointless confrontation
215. Soldiers clash as Georgia, Russia vie to assert their power
216. audio: South Ossetia crisis explained (NPR)
217. Stopping Russia: The U.S. and its allies must unite against Moscow's war on Georgia
218. War and peace
219. Georgia gamble backfires
220. Georgia's borders must be recognized, says former minister
221. audio: Georgians are worried about how far Russians will pursue the conflict (DW)
222. Georgia's decision to shell Tskhinvali could prove 'reckless' President timed action to coincide with Olympics, says academic
223. Putin tries to depose a neighbor
224. Georgian conflict puts U.S. in middle: Stakes raised in clashes over Russian-backed region
225. Spark turns low-key battle of feints into heavy fighting
226. Blood is spilled on jagged edge of Kremlin's former empire
227. Eruption of war in South Ossetia
228. Collision course
229. Russia on the march
230. Georgia’s banquet for a Russia’s table
231. Dangerous proxy war gains an international dimension
232. How the frozen conflict turned into a flash fire
233. South Ossetia: The war has begun!
234. Russian invasion of Georgia eerily similar to video game
235. How Georgia fell into its enemies' trap: Fighting in the Caucasus should be a deafening wake-up call to the West
236. Georgia on the brink
237. Russia / Georgia conflict sounds alarm bells at threat to vital link in the energy chain
238. An undeclared war to protect a nation unrecognised for 20 years
239. Georgia and Russia; Where is NATO?
240. Putin: “War has started” with Georgia
241. Kremlin has its work cut out to avoid a new defeat
242. Get out of Georgia
243. Picking a fight with Russia: Very presidential
244. Marching through Georgia: Cold War II proxy conflict turns hot
245. When conflicts thaw
246. video: Experts argue over Georgia-Ossetia conflict (Russia Today)
247. video: NATO encouraged Georgia – Russian envoy Russia Today)
248. Georgian president compared to Hitler
249. Vafa Guluzade offers Azerbaijan to follow Georgia's example?
250. Russia-U.S. Caucasus confrontation not likely to entail military actions
251. Plucky little Georgia? No, the cold war reading won't wash
252. Has Russia invaded sovereign Georgia?
253. Olympic peace shredded by Georgia fighting
254. Georgia wouldn't attack S Ossetia without western support
255. Russia-Georgia tensions reach new heights amid heavy fighting in South Ossetia
256. Summer conflict stirs memories in Baltics
257. All-out war looms in South Ossetia
258. Georgia's war worries
259. Communist leader says Russia should recognize Abkhazia, S Ossetia
260. Global politics add oxygen to a smoldering dispute
261. Who's to blame in South Ossetia?
262. Russian commentator blames Georgia-Ossetia conflict on politicians
263. Russia wages war on Georgia
264. Kremlin displays willingness to use force; Georgia no match for Russia's military might

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