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"

  • Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia's reaction to NATO ships 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)

(AP)  Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia will respond calmly to an increase in NATO ships in the Black Sea in the aftermath of the short war with Georgia, but promised that "there will be an answer."

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.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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by zhynaryll September 2, 2008 12:06 PM PDT
The Black Sea is open waters, is it not? I propose we send an aircraft carrier battle group in to show the Russians that we aren''t intimidated by their obverse show of force in Georgia. Then we''ll see just how brave Mr. Putin is!!
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 2, 2008 12:30 PM PDT
A build-up of naval forces is underway in the Black Sea, involving both NATO and Russian ships. The provocative actions by the US-lead military coalition create the danger of a clash with potentially catastrophic consequences.

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.
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 2, 2008 12:33 PM PDT
In a further provocative move by the US, the Dallas is to leave Georgia and visit the Ukranian port of Sevastopol the same day. The port is leased by Russia from Ukraine and is integral to its Black Sea operations. In a display of support for the US, Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko has said that the lease will not be extended beyond 2017 and has signed a decree requiring prior notice of all movements by Russian naval vessels and aircraft from Sevastopol.
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by brianbwb-2009 September 2, 2008 12:34 PM PDT
"The question isn''''t why are "all" these ships in the black sea, why is it that Russia is in Georgia! that is the question, screw the little commie dictator!" Posted by zgomer

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.
Reply to this comment
by kennedy7955 September 2, 2008 12:39 PM PDT

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.
Reply to this comment
by obamaisaho2 September 2, 2008 12:46 PM PDT
Putin,

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.
Reply to this comment
by obamaisaho2 September 2, 2008 12:47 PM PDT
btainbwb is a typical commie left fascist who supports Obama - and like him a non-serving coward. He''s too stupid and afraid of the KGB and the Russkies to be anything else.
Reply to this comment
by obamaisaho2 September 2, 2008 12:49 PM PDT
Come to think of it, so are Obama and Biden. Their response to Russian aggression would have been lifted directly from the Jimmy Carter weasel songbook.
Reply to this comment
by neoconrcrazy September 2, 2008 12:54 PM PDT
russia has been absolutely correct in its actions and has saved countless thousands from georgian barbary -

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.

Reply to this comment
by johnpatrick9 September 2, 2008 1:14 PM PDT
Fascist militarist are obviously using the board to create a false tension between Russia and the West to put in place their fascist military-industrial complex ticket of MCCain and thus continue to militarize the UNITED STATES. President Eisenhower warned us to beware of the fascists within the U.S AND WE HAVE SEEN THEM EMERGE UNDER THE FASCIST REPUBLICANS.
Reply to this comment
by johnpatrick9 September 2, 2008 1:16 PM PDT
The Georgians got their *** whupped and they deserved it for attacking Ostia. Good for the Russkies.
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 2, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
WORLD WAR 3!! THIS IS THE BEGINNING THE DRAFT WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE AIR STRIKES BEGAN..........
Reply to this comment
by secundus2 September 2, 2008 1:35 PM PDT
How many shares of Gazprom do Putin and Medvedhev (sp?) and Lavrov and the Russian generals hold?

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.
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by beehive21-2009 September 2, 2008 2:47 PM PDT
Dear Mr Putin ,you really should behave , before your people hang your foolish hide, they''ve done it before.The people of Russia are smarter than you, Mr Putin and your going to be hung by your people if you keep it up ?
Reply to this comment
by talkingham September 2, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
Listen to all of these Bush neocons saying how wrong he was about his main man Putin. Der Bush looked into Putin''s eyes... and fell in love.

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.
Reply to this comment
by libsluv2spit September 2, 2008 4:22 PM PDT
I would like to see how the UN and the EU''s reaction to this.....

for all those american liberals..just observe your saviors in action....
Reply to this comment
by libsluv2spit September 2, 2008 4:24 PM PDT
it might end up that we save EUROPE AGAIN..
the almighty uber enlightened europeans..the envy of those american liberals..

TIME TO KISS AMERICAN ARSE...AGAIN..

a united europe???? its a fantasy..
Reply to this comment
by middleman8 September 2, 2008 5:35 PM PDT
Here''s to all u nuts talking war with Russia and how the U S saved the world.

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.
Reply to this comment
by jmurrieta1 September 2, 2008 5:35 PM PDT
McCain brought this all down with his Republican "fall surprise".

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.
Reply to this comment
by Syndicate September 2, 2008 5:53 PM PDT
I think you should reread your advice and try following it.
Reply to this comment
by Syndicate September 2, 2008 5:54 PM PDT
My last comment was meant for middleman8
Reply to this comment
by rave_on3 September 2, 2008 6:10 PM PDT
WORLD WAR 3!! THIS IS THE BEGINNING THE DRAFT WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THE AIR STRIKES BEGAN..........


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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.
Reply to this comment
by middleman8 September 2, 2008 6:11 PM PDT
cbscrash;

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.
Reply to this comment
by airboatboy September 2, 2008 7:00 PM PDT
Middleman must of got bullied as a kid and he''s takin'' it out on the US.
Reply to this comment
by Thomas1016 September 2, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
all the Russian Bluster is for their domestic audience. NATO has had more ships then they have now in the Black Sea before with no problems. They want to project themselves as a super power agian. which it was just a illusion before that they were not. They might have been strapped for money but they had all the military might of a super power all along. This is all being made possible now because of the price of Oil, gas and foriegn investment. Imperialistic Russia is back now. And wanting to show the world that they will do what they want, when they want, and on their own terms. Which I suppose if your a Russian that feels like you have been pushed down all your life would appeal to you.

Sounds pretty similar to how Hitler came to power actually.
Reply to this comment
by secundus2 September 2, 2008 7:17 PM PDT
Where is the news concerning Russian interior ministry forces who are suspected of murdering Ingushetia''s most widely known journalist? (Ingushetia borders Georgia).

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.
Reply to this comment
by rave_on3 September 2, 2008 7:39 PM PDT
Sounds pretty similar to how Hitler came to power actually.


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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?
Reply to this comment
by polar_bear3 September 2, 2008 8:52 PM PDT
We r omnipotent nation gave birth to superior concurs,explorers&scientists.Its our burden and mission to dominate the world and rule upon u pathetic western dogs.This did our ancestors for 1000 years and it will b done by us and our suns.Who crushed Napoleon&Hitler,who sent the first man to space&invented TV and first PC etc.Our glorious warriors marched in Paris and Berlin; half of the earth were thrown to their boots.Read the history u D@$AMN juvenile.U never learn,do u?The innate %u201Ccurse%u201D to b winners we take as infants with our mother%u2019s milk.U say there r only 150 million of us left,we agree.But ur grandfathers must tell u that one Russian worth twenty of u mongrels.Weakness ain%u2019t in our Russian vocabulary.Traitors&cowards have severe fate to b exterminated.Why my land is so vast,did u ask urself?Because u bunch of moron cowards capable only to lick our shoes and nothing else!Shiver and tremble u 750 million western sheeps.Screech,snivel & run.U sensing well ur Sheppard is on his way.Read ur European biased history if u forgot previous lessons of ours,what turn out from exasperating us.And u have done it well enough for the last 20 years.the teacher is going to teach a lesson his school pupils.These days we substitute our swords by our opulence, wealth and finance shrouding the world in our Russian spider net.What ever u imbeciles do u doomed to loose.We had enough of ur gibberish,time to show who is the host here
Reply to this comment
by gce65 September 2, 2008 8:56 PM PDT
America is on the wrong side here, and once again it''s because of energy: oil and natural gas.

Hold a vote in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. If they want to secede from Georgia and join Russia then that''s democracy.
Reply to this comment
by edintex September 2, 2008 9:09 PM PDT
These days we substitute our swords by our opulence, wealth and finance shrouding the world in our Russian spider net.What ever u imbeciles do u doomed to loose.We had enough of ur gibberish,time to show who is the host here...
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...
Reply to this comment
by gce65 September 2, 2008 9:11 PM PDT
Russia is xenophobic and paranoid.
Posted by allurfears
---------

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.
Reply to this comment
by gce65 September 2, 2008 9:23 PM PDT
PUTIN=STALIN
Posted by linymo at 12:59 PM : Sep 02, 2008
----------

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."
Reply to this comment
by edintex September 2, 2008 9:41 PM PDT
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.
...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!!!
Reply to this comment
by edintex September 2, 2008 9:45 PM PDT
Oh, I guess GCE65''s power must be out in his Russian flat again. Some things never change, right COMRADE?
Reply to this comment
by polar_bear3 September 2, 2008 10:02 PM PDT
To edintex and other YANKEES

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!
Reply to this comment
by obungler September 2, 2008 11:44 PM PDT
You can''''t blame Putin. This is the equivalent of Russia putting warships on the doorstep of Florida (Cuba). I totally agree with his response.


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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.
Reply to this comment
by apndrgn September 3, 2008 9:20 AM PDT
my great grandfather was born in moscow, a mennonite. Under Stalin, his generation was put in train car concentration camps and starved to death exactly like the jews under hitler, only earlier. We have pictures of these camps in a museum. He somehow escaped, and became a well known chiropractor in Oaklahoma.
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.
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 3, 2008 11:08 AM PDT
BREAKING NEWS:Russia will complete Iran nuclear plant
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 3, 2008 11:09 AM PDT
TEHRAN (AFP) - The Russian company building Iran''s first nuclear power plant has renewed a commitment to complete the project, the official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 3, 2008 11:11 AM PDT
TBILISI, Georgia - A U.S. Navy ship loaded with humanitarian aid steamed through the Dardanelles on its way to Georgia on Wednesday, as the Bush administration prepared to roll out a $1 billion economic aid package for the ex-Soviet republic.
Reply to this comment
by hacker2xy September 3, 2008 11:57 AM PDT
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev sternly warned the West that it would lose more than Moscow if it tried to punish Russia with sanctions over the war with Georgia.

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
Reply to this comment
by vietnam21 September 3, 2008 3:09 PM PDT
This is a joke. Russia is a permanent member and will take part of
the sanctions vote but will also try to sell fuel rods to Iran . Does this make any
sense?
Reply to this comment
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.

Shareholders 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
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