Statement by US State Department

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack has voiced the official position of the United States regarding the agreement reached between the Presidents of France and Russia. McCormack stated that any step which would speed up the pullout of Russian forces from Georgia would be positive.
“What we call upon Russia to do is live up to its original agreements. They made certain commitments to President Sarkozy, and we would expect that they live up to those agreements. They haven’t done thus far, notwithstanding comments from President Medvedev. We call upon him as well as the Russian Government to live up to what they said they would do in the aftermath of negotiating with President Sarkozy,” McCormack said.

Europe to bring Russia under control

Europe will bring Russia under control and this is the beginning of a great mission, said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili as he commented on the agreement between French President Sarkozy and Russian President Medvedev after a meeting with President Sarkozy in Tbilisi. ”This is the beginning of the full implementation of the six-point ceasefire agreement brokered by France, and we can say it is a step forward,'' Saakashvili announced.
President of France Nikolas Sarkozy had arrived in Tbilisi from Moscow late on September 8 after four-hour negotiations with Dmitry Medvedev. The meeting between Saakashvili and Sarkozy in the President's Chancellery lasted two hours and was followed by a joint briefing, where the results of the negotiations were declared.

Sarkozy said that the European Union was moving forward in this crisis and that the pledge of the Russian President to finally pull the Russian Army out of Georgian soil proved this. The President of France reiterated Europe’s support of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and condemned the recognition of Georgia's two breakaway regions by Russia. During this month the European Union will strictly monitor the implementation of the obligations taken by Russia under this and a previous agreement on ceasefire and pullout.

It was also announced that in October Georgia would host a summit, where support for Georgia's territorial unity and sovereignty would be demonstrated once again.

Polish journalists released

Members of a broadcast crew from Polish television station Polska TV, who were detained late on September 8, have been set free. Russian occupiers and Ossetian separatists handed them over to Georgia, on Georgian-controlled territory, on the morning on September 9.

The Polish journalists say that they had arrived in the region to cover the post-Russian aggression humanitarian situation, but Ossetian and Russian gunmen detained them and brought to Tskhinvali. The aggressors tried to force the hostages to give them ''confidential information'' as they accused them of spying for the U.S., Poland and Georgia. The separatists eventually freed the journalists after diplomatic offices became involved.

The released hostages say they were given only water during their captivity.

Rally scheduled at Russian checkpoint in Khobi region

A demonstration is due to be held at the Russian illegal checkpoint in the village of “First of May” in the Khobi region. It is understood that local residents will gather in the centre of Khobi and hold a peaceful march to the village checkpoint. The organisers of the rally declare that Russia must dismantle all the illegal checkpoints it has established on Georgian territory.

Russia attempts to gain support from Azerbaijan

The Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers held a meeting in Moscow on September 7. According to Russian Government reports, Sergey Lavrov and Elmar Mamediarov discussed the regional and international situations created after curbing the Georgian assault on South Ossetia. The Azerbaijan agency “Dei Azi” reports that the Turkish “Security and Cooperation Platform” initiative was also discussed.

In a reference to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Lavrov apparently told his counterpart that Russia recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Sergey Bagapsh not against Russian military bases in Abkhazia

Sergey Bagapsh has denied reports which suggested that he was against allowing Russian military bases to be established in Abkhazia, as the radio station “Echo Moskvy” states. “In my interview I was asked if new military facilities would be built in the Republic. I answered that no new installations were planned, but all the old ones would be restored. It was thus spread about that I was against Russian troops being based in Abkhazia. On the contrary, I personally demanded the stationing of Russian troops in Abkhazia,” the de facto President stated.

Mikhail Machavariani – Russian actions will help our colleagues understand the current situation

Georgian Parliament Vice-Speaker Mikhail Machavariani doesn’t think there is anything remarkable about Russian jets entering Georgian airspace. As he has stressed, Russia has already violated the Georgian border and occupied much of Georgia’s territory. Clearly therefore it will also violate airspace and make other provocations. “All these actions will help to open the eyes of our European and American colleagues to the reality of the current situation,” Machavariani says.

Two Russian jets entered Georgian airspace on September 7, according to an official statement made by the Georgian Government on September 8. The jets entered from the Russian Federation and proceeded to circle over Tskhinvali and Shatili for a period of about 45 minutes. The make of the jets involved could not be confirmed.

The Georgian Government could have avoided the Russian military aggression, say poll respondents

In another Kviris Palitra poll, also held from September 1-4, 407 respondents gave answers to the question, Could the Georgian Government have avoided the Russian military aggression? 43.0 % said that it could have done, 35.8% that it could not have done and 21.2% gave no answer or way or the other.

Irakli Alasania has played most positive role in latest developments, poll says

465 people took part in a poll conducted by ‘Kviris Palitra’ on September 1-4. The question was: Which of the following people do you believe has played the most positive part in the latest developments in Georgia? Poll respondents ranked the nine listed names from 9 (most positive) to 1 (least).

The results were as follows: 1. Irakli Alasania – averaging 7.65 points2. Mikheil Saakashvili – 7.553. Davit Bakradze – 5.834. Koba Subeliani – 5.065. Eka Tkheshelashvili – 4.796. Vano Merabishvili- 4.587. Temur Iakobashvili – 3.818. Gigi Ugulava – 3.489. Davit Kezerashvili -2.26

Bagapsh – Treaty of Cooperation to be signed In Moscow

An agreement on friendship and cooperation between Russia and Abkhazia has already been prepared and will be signed in Moscow in the near future, Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey Bagapsh has stated. “A major treaty on friendship, cooperation and the provision of help, consisting of 32 clauses, is practically ready. I believe the document will be signed in Moscow in the nearest future,” Bagapsh said. He has also stated that the agreement covers a number of issues and it will therefore be necessary to sign additional memoranda between ministries and departments.

Russia recognized independence of so-called South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26.