17 September 2008
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• Author: Mikhail Zygar
• Source: Russian Press Digest - Russica Izvestia

British Ambassador believes threat of Russia’s international isolation is exaggerated

British Ambassador Tony Brenton is leaving Moscow, after working here for four years and figuring in a number of major scandals. As he prepares to go, he met with Kommersant’s Mikhail Zygar and told him that the recent telephone conversation between Sergey Lavrov and David Miliband is good news, that after Georgia there is no doubt about the completion of the Nabucco project, what depends on Russia now and whether it will be ejected from the Group of Eight. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

13 September 2008
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• Source: BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union

Moscow, 13 September: It will be a major blow to the G8 if Russia is excluded from the club, believes Aleksandr Pankin, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s department for international organizations.

“What will the G7 lose if they lose their eighth member? They will lose a lot. Both politically and strategically it would mean entirely nullifying the G8’s work - not because they wouldn’t survive without us, but because there is talk about expanding the G8, about the fact that the G8 is insufficient, because this is confirmed by the ‘eight plus five’ format,” Pankin told journalists. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

10 September 2008
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• Source: Agence France Presse

Japan is trying to arrange a meeting of Group of Eight foreign ministers on the Georgia crisis but is facing opposition from an unspecified member country, a government official said Wednesday.

“Japan, as a chair of the G8, is coordinating a proposal to hold a G8 foreign ministerial meeting over Georgia, but the plan has not been finalised yet,” a senior foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

10 September 2008
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• Source: Agence France Presse

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday there was “no doubt whatsoever” that Russia would be invited to next year’s G8 summit in Italy, despite the recent crisis over Georgia.

Moscow’s military interventions in Georgia have angered other members and US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has called for Russia to be thrown out of the Group of Eight industrialised powers, while US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has warned their place is at stake. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

9 September 2008
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• Source: Reuters News

The United States has tried to persuade the Group of Eight to postpone meetings with Russian participation as punishment for Moscow’s actions in Georgia, Russia’s G8 sherpa said on Tuesday.

U.S. officials have said Russia’s membership in the G8, which groups most of the world’s leading industrialised nations, is at stake after Russian armed forces went into Georgia, drawing widespread international condemnation. (more…)

Filed by Ozlem Yucel under East-West Relations and Russia

9 September 2008
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• Author: Tatyana Stanovaya
• Source: BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union

On 26 August Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In his television address, the president accused the regime of Mikheil Saakashvili of genocide. The recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia was sharply censured by Europe and the United States. In the meantime Russia made it clear that it is now suspending its participation in a number of agreements signed within the framework of preparing to join the WTO. (more…)

Filed by Ozlem Yucel under East-West Relations and Russia

7 September 2008
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• Source: ITAR-TASS World Service

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, September 7 (Itar-Tass) — Germany is against curtailing relations with Russia and its expulsion from the G-8 over the events in the Caucasus as well as intends to develop with it advantageous for it neighbourly relations, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview with the Deutsche Funk radio station, aired on Sunday.

According to the chancellor, “we do not want to disrupt contacts with Russia” and “we should closely and frankly exchange opinions and say what we think of each other rather than keep mum”. Merkel noted that “Russia is a very vast and very rich country in natural resources”; and economic relations with Russia promise Germany many good things. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security

5 September 2008
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• Source: Associated Press

KIEV, Ukraine — Vice President Dick Cheney insisted that Georgia will join NATO and backed its attempts to rebuild from its war with Russia on Thursday, using a trip to former Soviet republics as a show of U.S. support for their pro-Western leaders.

Cheney flew to Kiev from Georgia, where he denounced Russia’s “illegitimate, unilateral attempt” to redraw the U.S. ally’s borders by force. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

3 September 2008
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• Author: Nicholas Kralev and Bill Gertz
• Source: The Washington Times

The Bush administration has ordered a review of U.S. defense cooperation programs with Russia but is not about to draw up “mindless lists” of penalties that could alienate the Russian people while leaving Moscow’s troops in Georgia, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European affairs, also called Russia’s accusation that “foreign navy ships” are delivering weapons to the former Soviet republic under the guise of humanitarian aid “complete nonsense.” (more…)

Filed by Ozlem Yucel under East-West Relations and Russia

3 September 2008
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• Source: UNI (United News of India)

Stressing that the Group of Eight (G-8) was not capable of functioning without Russia, President Medvedev has said without the presence of India and China in the ‘’outreach format'’, the decisions made by the group of industrialised nations will not be effective. ‘’Even the G-8 itself is already aware that without the presence of India and China, and use of the so called outreach format, several decisions in the G-8 format will not be fully effective,'’ Medvedev said in an interview to Euro News TV channel. He referred to the West’s possible move to expel Russia from G-8 or impose a ban on the country joining the WTO, in connection with Russia-Georgia conflict over South Ossetia. ‘’The G-8 will not survive without Russia,'’ he said emphatically. ‘’The matter of the WTO is a particular economic subject,'’ he said, adding, ‘’Indeed, we would like to join the WTO, but not at any cost.'’ (more…)

Filed by Ozlem Yucel under East-West Relations and Russia

3 September 2008
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• Source: Kazakhstan General Newswire

The activity of the Group of Eight (G8) without Russia would not make any sense, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

“The G8 cannot exist without Russia, and even if it tries to convene, this would not benefit the world order,” Medvedev said in an interview broadcast on EuroNews TV channel when asked to comment on proposals recently heard in the West on excluding Russia from the G8. (more…)

Filed by Ozlem Yucel under East-West Relations and Russia

2 September 2008
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• Author: Vladimir Isachenkov
• Source: Associated Press Newswires

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sternly warned the West on Tuesday that it would lose more than Moscow if it tried to punish Russia with sanctions over the war with Georgia.

In an interview with Italian RAI television broadcast Tuesday, Medvedev said that Russia does not fear expulsion from the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security

2 September 2008
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• Source: ITAR-TASS World Service

HIROSHIMA, September 2 (Itar-Tass) —— Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov turned over to his counterparts from the G8 member countries on Tuesday two albums with photos, taken in Tskhinval immediately after the beginning of hostilities. He attended a meeting of heads of the lower chambers of parliaments of the G8 countries, held here on Tuesday. Gryzlov explained to the legislators Russia’s stand on the North Caucasian conflict. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security

2 September 2008
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• Source: MyPaper

BRUSSELS: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was dismissive of European leaders who suggested that concrete action would be taken against Russia after its military action in Georgia – including suspension from the G8.

He said that any attempts at severing relations would be hampered by the self-interest of European nations. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

1 September 2008
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• Author: Richard Haass
• Source: Newsweek

The situation on the ground in Georgia appears to be quieting, which is not the same as saying it has been resolved. The contested region of South Ossetia is more detached from Georgia; Russian “peacekeepers” inside the country have expanded in number and location. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s decision to reassert his government’s authority in South Ossetia looks rash: he underestimated the Russian response, and he overestimated what the United States and others would do on his behalf. Both Senators McCain and Obama have been robust in their denunciations of Russian actions. But the fact is that there is little the United States can do to help Georgia. The real question is how the next president will deal with Russia come January. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

1 September 2008
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• Source: ITAR-TASS World Service

TOKYO, September 1 (Itar-Tass) —— A meeting between the speakers of the lower houses of parliaments of the G8 states will open in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on Monday. The speakers are expected to discuss peacekeeping issues.

“In this part (of debates – Itar-Tass) the discussion on the events in the Caucasus is quite possible,” the chairman of the State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs, Konstantin Kosachyov, who is accompanying Russian State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov, told Itar-Tass. This issue has already been raised at the Sunday bilateral talks between Gryzlov and his Japanese counterpart Yohei Kono, who chairs the meeting. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia, Arms Control, Proliferation and WMD

1 September 2008
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• Source: China Business Newswire

Moscow. September 1. INTERFAX-AVN - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Aug. 28 that the Group of Eight most industrially developed nations is becoming inadequate without India and China.

“The G8 as it is today is already inadequate. Without inviting the People’s Republic of China or India, without consulting them… it’s hard to imagine the normal development of the world economy,” Putin told CNN television. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

31 August 2008
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• Source: Kyodo News

TOKYO, Aug. 31 — House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono on Sunday urged his Russian counterpart Boris Gryzlov to ‘’peacefully settle'’ the dispute between Russia and Georgia over the breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia, Japanese officials said.

During a meeting with Kono in a Tokyo hotel, Gryzlov, who is visiting Japan to attend a conference of Group of Eight lower house speakers to be held in Hiroshima on Tuesday, said Western media reports on the issue are wrong, according to the officials. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

31 August 2008
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• Source: ITAR-TASS World Service

TOKYO, August 31 (Itar-Tass) — Speaker of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov expressed readiness to describe the situation in South Ossetia to his G-8 colleagues at the summit of the heads of parliament lower houses of the leading industrialised nations, which will open on September 1.

He voiced this idea on Sunday at a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Yohei Kono, chairing the forum. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

30 August 2008
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• Source: ITAR-TASS World Service

MOSCOW, August 30 (Itar-Tass) —— The G8 parliament summit will discuss the situation in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov told reporters on Saturday. He will leave on Monday for Japan to participate in the seventh G8 head of parliament meeting. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

30 August 2008
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• Author: James Blitz
• Source: Financial Times

Strong words from the G7 do not signal a return to club’s old format, say James Blitz and Daniel Dombey

Russia has this week been the subject of relentless criticism from western governments over its actions in Georgia.

However, nothing conveyed the impression of the Kremlin’s international isolation more than the decision by the Group of Seven leading industrial nations to co-ordinate their attack on Moscow. (more…)

Filed by Amadeus Domaradzki under East-West Relations and Russia

29 August 2008
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• Author: Michael Mainville
• Source: Agence France Presse

Georgia on Friday broke diplomatic relations with Russia, heightening hostilities between the neighbours as Moscow also hit back at Western criticism.

Georgia announced the split three days after Russia formally recognised the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.
(more…)

Filed by Anita Li under East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security

28 August 2008
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• Source: Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan)

The world’s leading industrial nations on Wednesday condemned Russia’s actions in Georgia, underlining the country’s growing estrangement from the West.
(more…)

Filed by Anita Li under East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security

28 August 2008
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• Author: Toni Vorobyova
• Source: Reuters News

MOSCOW, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Russia wants to renegotiate a few current trade agreements, and is only ready to lower tariffs and liberalise trade after joining the World Trade Organisation, its top negotiator was quoted as saying on Thursday.
(more…)

Filed by Anita Li under Multilateral Trade, East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security

28 August 2008
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• Author: Alexander Osipovich
• Source: Agence France Presse

Russia won support Thursday from China and Central Asian states in its standoff with the West over the Georgia conflict as the European Union said it was weighing sanctions against Moscow.
(more…)

Filed by Anita Li under East-West Relations and Russia, Regional Security