Kavkaz

SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – Russia intends to keep 500 troops in a security zone surrounding Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Oil rose to $116 a barrel on Thursday, climbing for a third straight session, as Washington’s missile shield deal with Poland angered Russia, adding to international tension.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Baku may export its oil via Iran after explosion and conflict disrupted its routes through Turkey and Georgia, An Azeri official said.

Russia is continuing to show no sign of yielding to Western pressure to hasten its withdrawal from Georgia. Germany, Russia’s largest trading partner, has become the latest major power to express impatience over the pace of the pull-out – which is turning into scepticism over Moscow’s intentions.

We will respond, and it won’t just be a diplomatic protest. That is the warning from Russia after the US and Poland signed an agreement on the controversial American missile defence shield.

Russia is under increasing Western pressure to meet its own Friday deadline to pull its troops out of Georgia. However, those on the ground say there is little evidence of any large-scale military withdrawal.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Keyhan manager Hossein Shariatmadari examined the Russian-Georgian conflict in an editorial in the Persian daily headlined One piece of news and a lesson to learn.

Боевые корабли НАТО имеют полное право войти в Черное море и взять под контроль территориальные воды Грузии, если официальный Тбилиси направит соответствующую просьбу в альянс.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday he will use a visit to Russia to expand military ties with Moscow, whose arms sales to the Middle Eastern state have angered Israel and the United States.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO agreed after U.S. pressure on Tuesday to freeze regular contacts with Russia until Moscow had withdrawn its troops from Georgia in line with a peace deal.