put in ru

The West does not favor not taken place triumphers even those who show loyalty. That is why the time for Tskhinvali campaign is to be chosen unsuccessfully. Saakashvili needs to understand it and not losing his face “to win” the situation back. He should not put all political eggs in a single basket, concern more closely to Moscow position, which is completely not anti-Georgian and pursue no interests in the region contradicting to strategic Georgian ones. The obvious miscalculation on the part of new Georgian management would be underestimation of the positive role of Moscow doing a maximum possible in conditions of the real conflict. Any others, including external forces, could not replace Russia in this quality (“Rossiyskaya gazeta”, 9.08).

Georgia enlarges the number of players

As compared with a majority of editions describing the situation around South Ossetia in a calming way, “Kommersant” supposes that the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia becomes aggravated. The arguments are the following: in the night from Monday to Tuesday Ossetia territory was subjected to bombardment on the part of Georgia. The meeting of Defense Ministers of Russia and Georgia has not removed intensity between the parties.

Put before the threat of the large-scaled conflict in South Ossetia Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili urgently took off to Ukraine to search for support of the CIS chairman Leonid Kuchma, “Kommersant” announces.

“Novie izvestia” retelling about this visit underlines that Saakashvili supposed to gain understanding with Kuchma who is in close relations with Putin.

“Rossiyskaya gazeta” notes that during yesterday’s negotiations of Defense Ministers of Georgia and Russia Sergey Ivanov denied both the application of Georgian high-ranking politicians for violation of Georgian air space by Russia and information that the representatives of South Ossetian armed forces are trained in the territory of military base “Satellite” near Vladikavkaz.

“Nezavisimaya gazeta” supposes that the most important thing agreed by the parties is the possibility to renew military-technical co-operation of Russia and Georgia, interrupted in 1992. According to Ivanov, the question of renewal of Georgian military men training in high schools of Russian Defense Ministry was also discussed.

Thus George Baramidze noted that Tbilisi is ready to develop relations with Russia in a format of strategic partnership. He named the formation of national system of antiaircraft defense as one of such perspective directions. Besides Tbilisi is going to join the agreement of the CIS states on toughening of the control over moving of portable antiaircraft guided missiles systems, “Nezavisimaya gazeta” notes.

Interviewed by “Nezavisimaya gazeta” George Baramidze designated the position of Georgia across South Ossetia and Abkhazia and gave his understanding of Georgian-Russian relations.

Key theses of interview:

On Saakashvili’s scandalous application for necessity to heat Russian ships with tourists onboard: The only thing is that we demand the implementation of the international norms and agreements.

On South Ossetia issue: If we thought of military settlement in Tshinvali region Georgian army would have made it without ceremony. We do not put such an objective.
On bombardment of Andrey Kokoshin’s column: Ossets started to shoot on a direction of Georgian block-post. Naturally, it began to shoot in response, and there was a firing.

On reasons of military tension: We have blocked oxygen to separatists. What main source of incomes they had? Smuggling. It is 95 % of their incomes at least.

On night firing: if one check up the places of these firing with the ethnic card of South Ossetia he will understand, that these firing constantly occur at approaches to Georgian villages. In fact what policy is pursued? To undo the war and to catch the Georgians on emotions.

Georgian Minister for conflict settlement told “Nezavisimaya gazeta” that yesterday Tskhinvali authorities addressed to the Georgian party with the request to assist in searches of the disappeared Economics Minister. Georgian policemen found out the body of Ruslan Pliev in the river Liahvi near Georgian village Tamarasheni.

The Georgian party considers that Ruslan Pliev died as a result of the accident, “Kommersant” announces.

Sensational, but not officially proved information on a meeting of the leader of the Chechen separatists Aslan Maskhadov’s representative in Georgia with Mikhail Saakashvili is published by “Rossiyskaya gazeta” today.

Chechnya calls to vote

“Novie izvestia” stresses attention to the fact that yesterday the application of Chechen mufti Ahmad-KHadzhi Shamaev calling to use nonviolent political methods for settlement of Chechen conflict was distributed in the republic.

It was supported by Abdul-Kerim Arsanov, the head of regional electoral commission. Making comments on it he offered all political forces, including supporters of separatists, to take part in voting on August 29.

“Kommersant” quotes Interfax saying that Russian special services have the information on foreign sponsors’ grants directed to Chechen insurgents for the failure of presidential elections of the Chechen Republic, which are planned for August 29.

The Federal Assembly is outside the game

The end of spring parliamentary session receives today a number of comments.

Noting the miracles of working capacity shown by deputies at the first session, “Novie izvestia” believes that the part of the work done in haste should be altered. Among the bills, which require work on mistakes are the law on advertising imposing restriction to advertise beer and a package of bills replacing privileges with monetary payments.

“Nezavisimaya gazeta” underlines the way the senators worked at privileges replacement especially pleased Vladimir Putin. It is pleasant that before stamping the governmental offer on deprivation of pensioners and invalids of the state privileges the upper chamber reflected alittle. Though hardly something can change it.

The head of the state assigned the task for autumn calling to approve the Town planning Code, a package of housing laws and the laws related to the public health services and education together with the budget for 2005,

“Kommersant” notes.

“Nezavisimaya gazeta” stresses attention to the fact that the reception at the president took place not in a guest extension where the head of the state communicated with businessmen but in Ekatherininsky hall one of the most magnificent in Kremlin. So authorities try to lift the status of Federation Council, which after governors had left it practically does not render real influence on Russian policy.