Kavkaz

Clinton reiterates support for Georgia

Ahead of talks with her Russian counterpart Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made clear Washington’s continuing stand on its relations with Georgia, saying, Washington’s engagement with Moscow in no way lessened its support for Tbilisi. She was answering questions on the future of US-EU relations and other …

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S Ossetia hopes EU mission to probe into real facts of Georgia’s war

TSKHINVAL, March 6 – An independent inquiry mission of the European Union, which will investigate the facts of the conflict in South Ossetia, arrived in the republic on Friday with Heidi Tagliavini at the head. EU emissaries will meet with South Ossetian presidential Plenipotentiary Representative on Issues of Post-Conflict Settlement …

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Georgian diplomat supports dialogue with Russia

TBILISI, March 6 – Erosi Kitsmarishvili, ex-Ambassador of Georgia to Russia, believes time has come for the beginning of a dialogue on the settlement of relations between the two countries. He spoke about it in an interview with Itar-Tass on Friday. “I think both Tbilisi and Moscow realise perfectly well …

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Swiss embassy in Georgia begins issuing Russian visas

TBILISI/MOSCOW, March 5  – The Swiss embassy in Georgia began on Thursday accepting applications for Russian entry visas from Georgian nationals. Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia in late August 2008 after Moscow recognized its former republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Recognition followed a five-day war …

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Georgia’s Saakashvili has another challenger

TBILISI, Georgia: A leading Georgian opposition party is putting forth its leader to challenge President Mikhail Saakashvili. Labor Party leader Shalva Natelashvili’s decision comes as opposition groups struggle to force Saakashvili to hold new elections.

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Russia plays tricky game with U.S. over Kyrgyz base

MOSCOW  – Russia has embarked on a risky political game with new U.S. President Barack Obama by forcing its ally Kyrgyzstan to close a U.S. military base while keeping up overtures to establish warmer relations with Washington. The Manas air base near the capital of the Central Asian state is …

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Russian protesters storm Putin party office

ST PETERSBURG, Russia – Three activists stormed an office of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s political party in St Petersburg on Thursday to accuse him of ignoring the plight of ordinary people in the economic slowdown. Two members of the banned National Bolshevik Party handcuffed themselves to a radiator while …

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Russia plans warplanes in Georgia rebel region: report

MOSCOW  – Russia may base warplanes in Georgia’s rebel Abkhazia region in support of a naval base soon to be constructed there, Interfax news agency quoted a Russian official as saying on Thursday. NATO countries expressed concern on Wednesday at reports on Interfax quoting unnamned military sources that Russia planned …

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NATO irked by Russia’s reported Georgian base plan

BRUSSELS  – NATO countries expressed concern Wednesday about reports that Russia plans to set up bases in Russian-backed breakaway territories in Georgia, a NATO spokesman said. Representatives of the 26 NATO states discussed the issue on Wednesday and alliance Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will raise it with Russian Deputy …

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Violence falls under new leader in Russia’s Ingushetia

NAZRAN, Russia  – A new president in Russia’s mainly Muslim Ingushetia region has taken the heat out of a simmering rebellion by restoring some trust in the regional authorities. Although violence still scars Ingushetia, residents say it has decreased since Yunus-Bek Yevkurov replaced former secret police officer Murat Zyazikov in …

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