MOSCOW, Sept. 2, 2008
Putin Promises Response To NATO Presence
Increase Of Ships In Black Sea Prompts Russian PM To Say "There Will Be An Answer"
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Photo
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia's reaction to NATO ships "will be calm, without any sort of hysteria. (AP Photo/Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
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Photo Essay
A Shaky Cease-Fire
Russian soldiers take Georgian troops prisoner, remain in key Black Sea port.
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Who's Who
Russia And Georgia At Odds
Some of the faces and places involved in the tense dispute.
Russia has repeatedly complained that NATO has too many ships in the Black Sea. Foreign Ministry official Andrei Nesterenko said Tuesday that currently there are two U.S., one Polish, one Spanish and one German ship there.
Russian officials say the United States could have delivered weapons to Georgia under the guise of humanitarian aid.
"We don't understand what American ships are doing on the Georgian shores, but this is a question of taste, it's a decision by our American colleagues," he reportedly said. "The second question is why the humanitarian aid is being delivered on naval vessels armed with the newest rocket systems."
He said Russia's reaction to NATO ships "will be calm, without any sort of hysteria. But of course, there will be an answer," Interfax quoted Putin as saying during a visit to Uzbekistan.
Asked by exactly what measures Russia would take, Putin was quoted as answering "You'll see."
Separately, Russian officials criticized European threats to postpone talks on a partnership deal over the war in Georgia, but the Russian envoy to the EU said he was not surprised that the bloc declined to impose sanctions on Russia.
"We are too interdependent," Vladimir Chizhov told reporters in Moscow. "Russia and the European Union are bound by destiny to be close partners."
EU officials said Monday that unless Russian troops pull back from positions in Georgia, talks on the wide-ranging political and economic agreement would be delayed.
Britain and Eastern European nations held out for a tougher line, but Europe's dependence on Russian oil and natural gas deterred stronger sanctions.
Putin's visit to Uzbekistan only highlighted that dependence: The Russian leader announces a new natural gas pipeline to cross Uzbekistan, strengthening Russian control over Central Asian gas exports to Europe and undermining Western-backed efforts for a rival trans-Caspian route.
Criticizing the EU decision, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Russia had fulfilled "all of its commitments."
He claimed efforts were under way to rebuild Georgia's armed forces, and said Georgian military forces were behind protests against Russian troops stationed in the country.
"There are active attempts to restore the activity of Georgian troops," he said. "Yesterday, there were rallies and provocations near the town of Kapoleti targeting Russian troops. We believe they were organized by Georgian special services."
Georgian officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the claim.
"Naturally, we cannot agree with a number of biased statements regarding Russia in the final declaration of the summit, including the assertion that our reaction to the Georgian aggression was disproportionate," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The main thing, however, is that they are in the minority and the majority of EU countries have manifested a responsible approach and confirmed their intention to continue the partnership with Russia," the ministry said.
On Aug. 7, Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia, hoping to retake the province, which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s. Russian forces repelled the offensive and pushed into Georgia. Both sides signed a cease-fire deal in mid-August, but Russia has ignored its requirement for all forces to return to prewar positions.
Moscow insists the cease-fire accord lets it run checkpoints in security zones of up to 4 miles into Georgian territory.
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Late last week, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the Russian military%u2019s general staff, claimed that 10 NATO warships were in the Black Sea and that more were on the way.
Notwithstanding the fact that you do not determine what anyone''s questions should be, The Russians are in Georgia because Georgia tried to commit genocide against two provinces that wanted to be independent, and were pro-Moskva.
Notwithstanding the fact that you do not determine what anyone''''s questions should be, The Russians are in Georgia because Georgia tried to commit genocide against two provinces that wanted to be independent, and were pro-Moskva. Posted by brianbwb"
So you believe that Russia was acting on a humanitarians basis? Are you f''n kidding me? Do you know anything about Russia? Obviously not.
Here''s a message from one U.S. citizen.
You can kindly go to hell...you won''t be missed, and hopefully McCain will have the balls to get you there.
We know Obama and his equally gutless sidekick Plagarizin Joe don''t.
CUT OFF ALL AID TO RUSSIA AND BRING ALL OF THESE COUNTRIES INTO NATO. Putin knows if he attacks them - it will be war. Better under a Republican President who will ensure our military remains strong than two lilly-livered cowards and liars who hate the armed forces of this country.
it has been amusing to watch the chickenhawks in DC totally hopeless, when faced with a real country.
they''re only good killing innocent iraqis on false WMD intel, lies, and fabrications.
bush neocons & henchmen are common criminals.
The Russians blew it when they turned off the gas to Ukraine and others in midwinter and then tried to double or triple its price. Of course, the EU countries were paying attention to that piece of skulduggery and they want other suppliers and other supply routes that avoid Russian territory.
All the talk about politics (independence, annexation, territorial integrity) and fighting (who bombed first in Ossetia) makes the headlines, but the underlying issue is energy.
It is chidish to think that only the US makes decisions based on securing oil suppliers, supply routes and costs/prices.
The Russians, Georgians, Ukranians, Germans and the rest of the EU are as deeply involved in the struggle as everybody else. Even China is signing deals in Iraq.
Any new US administration will have be heavily into the oil markets from day one. Neither Pres. Obama nor Pres. McCain will be any lesss enmeshed in this issue than Pres. Bush. It has been the catalyst for most foreign policy decisions since the Carter years.
It is, to quote many of the angriest who post here, all about oil and about various nations'' strategies regarding oil.
Now McCain''s oil grubbing chief adviser on foreign policy and the lobbyist for Georgia wants us all ot be Georgians for McCain. Got news for u jerks, we''re still too busy being Iraqis to be Georgians just yet. But if McCain wins, best re-stock and dust off those fall-out shelters everyone.
for all those american liberals..just observe your saviors in action....
the almighty uber enlightened europeans..the envy of those american liberals..
TIME TO KISS AMERICAN ARSE...AGAIN..
a united europe???? its a fantasy..
For your info the us never saved anyone, they can''t even save their own a$$.
They hid back on two w w and got their butts kicked by third world countries since then. The u s does nothing but feather bed on the backs of other countries. Before u post something, find
out what the ?? u are talking about.
But not to worry, he''s too old to get shot down again, so he''ll limit himself to chest beating, puffing of cheeks, and fiery rhetoric.
Bush? He''ll re-up in the Texas Air Guard.
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Posted by Hacker2xy at 01:18 PM : Sep 02, 2008
Don''t worry. We don''t need your ilk in the military. We''ll send you a ticket to your favorite east bloc country so you can spout your leftist propaganda to those who have been under the tyranny of Soviet rule. You should be popular there because they love the Russians as much as you do, I''m sure.
I know very well of what i speak
The u s has broken every agreement & treaty it has ever signed, starting with the TRUE AMERICANS.
i was born and and raised under the same b s and propaganda as yourself was.
you have to raise above it.
Sounds pretty similar to how Hitler came to power actually.
Perhaps the fact that the president of Ingushetia is ex-KGB and despised this journalist makes him acceptable to Putin and Medvedev. Or perhaps this is part of the Russian "response" to troubles in the Caucasus. Medvedev called Saakashvili a "corpse" today, so be on the lookout for a Russian-engineered event in Georgia.
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Posted by Thomas_Kerr at 07:11 PM : Sep 02, 2008
You forgot to mention the ultra-nationalistic spirit and xenophobia gripping that nation right now.
Hitler anyone?
Hold a vote in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. If they want to secede from Georgia and join Russia then that''s democracy.
Posted by Polar_Bear3 at 08:52 PM : Sep 02, 2008
WOW, I''m suprised his power stayed on long enough to type that long piece of cr@p!!! I guess Russia is moving up a little in the world.
I guess now it is plain to see why General Patton did not trust the Ruskies and wanted to continue onward to the heart of Russia at the end of WWII. Ike shoulda let him do it...
Posted by allurfears
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Russia has been repeatedly invaded over the centuries by foreign armies. They lost 20 million people in WWII alone. What would the US think if it lost 20 million people in a war, even today? You''d be xenophobic and paranoid too if that happened in the US.
Now Bush/Cheney are trying to bring Ukraine and Georgia--neighboring countries--into NATO. That''s not such a stabilizing influence.
Criticize Russia all you want, but unless you read about their history and try to understand their leaders you''ll never understand why they act the way they do.
They also consistently produce the greatest chess players and strategists in the world. Think that''s a coincidence? It''s done out of need.
Posted by linymo at 12:59 PM : Sep 02, 2008
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Stalin was Georgian. Born Josef Jughashvili in Gori (GEORGIA) in 1878. Stalin was the name he chose for himself to establish his reputation as the "man of steel."
...Posted by gce65 at 09:11 PM : Sep 02, 2008
Ha, AS THE PREMIER/DICTATOR OF RUSSIA, Stalin was responsible for MORE THAN 30 million Russian deaths, worse than what WWII caused. And while Salin ordered the deaths of his countrymen, it was RUSSIAN PEOPLE who carried the orders out.
If the Russians should be "xenophobic and paranoid", they should be that way about THEIR NEW RISING DICTATOR in their country. If I lived in Russia right now and had wealth or education, I would be making plans to get out ASAP!!!
You are just another western insect jabbering dog%u2019s sh$@it. Stop poking your sniveling nose to our anuses, no good for your health buddy. Mind your own mess, you have plenty.
We love our MOTHER LAND and look after her, you filthy american mangrel!
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Posted by SkyFive at 11:38 PM : Sep 02, 2008
We have always had military presence in the Black Sea...my son was there every year of his nine years in the Navy with full battleship accompanyment.
Being his decendant, I have every right to sue the Russians for whatever gains they made relating to this. The mennonites were successful, and were therefore persecuted. They were invited to Russia by Kathryn the Great. These Mennonite women always wear black wedding dresses. I would like to claim the black sea as my own in punitive damages. Everybody out.
In an interview with Italian RAI television yesterday, Mr Medvedev said Russia did not fear expulsion from the G8 group of leading industrialized nations.
%u201CThe G8 will be practically unable to function without Russia, because it can make decisions only if they reflect the opinion of top global economies and leading political players of the world,%u201D Mr Medvedev said. %u201CThat%u2019s why we don%u2019t fear being expelled from the G8.%u201D
the sanctions vote but will also try to sell fuel rods to Iran . Does this make any
sense?
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by samsel3
September 4, 2008 8:36 AM PDT
- The truth is, this is all about control of oil & gas pipelines. The BTC oil pipeline in South Ossetia & the Nabucco natural gas pipeline in NW Georgia supply markets in the European Union. In November 2003 the World Bank funded the BTC pipeline to circumvent Russian pipelines supplying europe.
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Reply to this comment
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See all 43 CommentsShareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, ConocoPhillips & Amerada Hess.
Russia is the second largest supplier of oil & gas on the planet.
After loosing Iraqi oil to Operation Iraqi Freedom, they negotiated supplies with Iran. The Russians were not happy with Cheneys BTC pipeline or the Caspian Sea Pipelines project going through Afghanistan. This threatens their economy based on oil & gas.
Again it''s the Bush administrations lust for money in World markets for their BIG OIL buddies