Putin Promises Response To NATO Presence

Increase Of Ships In Black Sea Prompts Russian PM To Say "There Will Be An Answer"

(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.

[samsel3]

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

[vietnam21]

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?

[hacker2xy]

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

[hacker2xy]

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.

[hacker2xy]

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.

[hacker2xy]

BREAKING NEWS:Russia will complete Iran nuclear plant

[apndrgn]

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.

[obungler]

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.

[polar_bear3]

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!

[edintex]

Oh, I guess GCE65''s power must be out in his Russian flat again. Some things never change, right COMRADE?

[edintex]

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!!!

[gce65]

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."

[gce65]

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.

[edintex]

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...

[gce65]

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.

[polar_bear3]

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

[rave_on3]

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?

[secundus2]

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.

[Thomas1016]

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.

[airboatboy]

Middleman must of got bullied as a kid and he''s takin'' it out on the US.