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October 13, 2008
Caucusus
OPINION Vali Nasr: Obama Is Right On Iran Talks ·
Diplomacy with Iran will not only help there, but also in containing Russia, argues Vali Nasr. (WSJ) The U.S. should allow Iranian gas to reach Europe and engage them on talks over the Caucusus. Nasr is a professor at Tufts' Fletcher School and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Russia Exits Georgian Areas ·
Russian troops pulled out of the buffer zones inside Georgian territory adjacent to the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgian and Russian officials said. (Deutsche Welle)
Russia Says Georgia Using Terrorism To Invoke Conflict · Russian accused Georgia of committing terrorism to invoke a new conflict in the region but said it would comply with the agreement to pull its troop out of Georgia by Oct. 10.(Bloomberg)
Georgia Blast Kills Russian Soldiers · Seven Russian soldiers were killed when a car seized by the troops blew up in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia. It's unknown whether the blast was intentionally triggered. (BBC)
EU Monitors Begin Patrol In Georgia · The European Union deployed 200 civilian monitors across parts of Georgia. Russian troops allowed them into the buffer zone around South Ossetia despite earlier threats by Russia that it would bar them from the area. (IHT)
Russia Blocks International Monitors From South Ossetia · Negotiations to send international military monitors to Georgia failed after Western allies rejected Russian terms for the proposed deployments, thereby ruling out any international presence in South Ossetia. (Guardian)
Russia Signs Pacts With Georgian Separatists · Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sealed the dimplomatic ties with Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by signing friendship pacts that pledge Russian military support. (BBC)
Ukraine’s Government Collapses · Ukraine's ruling pro-western coalition, composed of parties loyal to President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, has officially collapsed after a long-running dispute between the two leaders. Yuschenko will call a snap election in 30 days, if Parliament cannot reach agreement. (BBC)
Foreign Investors Retreat From Russia · Russia is facing its worst business crisis since the August 1998 default after foreign investors pulled out nearly $20 billion in capital following its incursion into Georgia. (Financial Times) The Russian stock market is down by 40% since May and banks are being forced to slash lending.
Russia Agrees To Conditional Troops Withdrawal · Russia has agreed to pull its troops out of all positions in Georgia, except the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and allow 200 EU observers monitor the conflict on a condition that Georgia would not use force again. (NYT, BBC)
U.S. Trained Georgian Commandos · The U.S. military provided combat training to 80 Georgian special forces commandos only months before Georgia's assault in South Ossetia, the Financial Times reports. A U.S. army spokesperson said the goal of the training was to prepare the commandos for duty in Afghanistan as part of NATO-led force. (Financial Times)
U.S. Navy Ship Arrives In Georgia · A U.S. navy flagship carrying humanitarian aid anchored off Georgian port of Poti where Russian troops are still stationed. The arrival of USS Mount Whitney came a day after Moscow accused Vice President Dick Cheney of stoking tensions in the region. (London Times, BBC)
Cheney Slams Russia · Vice President Dick Cheney supported Georgia's membership for NATO and criticized Russia for what he said was its 'illegimiate' attempt to alter Georgia's borders. Speaking in Georgia, Cheney said Russia's recent actions have made it an unreliable international partner. (BBC, WSJ)
U.S. Offers Georgia $1B Aid · The Bush administration is set to announce a $1 billion aid package to help rebuild Georgia after its war with Russia last month.
Cheney Heads To Georgia In Show Of Support · Vice President Dick Cheney flew to Georgia in a trip that aimed at showing U.S. support for Georgia and the Ukraine. His visit is seen as a push for stiffer response against Russia. Western countries also agreed on a deal with International Monetary Fund to lend $750 million to Georgia. (WSJ, Bloomberg)