Duma Deputy: Saakashvili hopes to survive the economic crisis through provocations

Саакашвили надеется пережить острый экономический кризис за счет оплаченных силовых провокаций - депутат Госдумы РФ

Georgia's armed provocations are just another way for Mikheil Saakashvili to ask for money from the international community, first and foremost, from the US, believes Ruslan Kondratov, member of the Committee for International Affairs of the Russian State Duma. According to an IA Regnum correspondent, on August 5, Kondratov stated that he was certain that in the next few days, the situation at the Georgian-Abkhazian border could become very complicated. "Today, South Ossetia closed its border with Georgia, and the Ossetian's fear is quite justified--after last year's monstrous demarche, any kind of provocation can be expected from Saakashvili, including the use of military force. Now, the Georgian president needs to increase his political weight, and the anniversary of the military conflict in the Caucasus region is a serious occasion," noted the parliamentarian.

"In addition, Georgia is in the midst of an economic crisis, and armed provocations against South Ossetia and Russia are another way for Saakashvili to ask for money from the international community, first and foremost, the US," said the Duma deputy. "Tbilisi understands that if they can get the Russian army to use force against Georgia, this could be a trump card in their foreign policy game. Therefore, the main task of our border forces is not to permit such events to unfold. Nevertheless, since the end of July, South Ossetia and Georgia have reported provocations on the border," said Kondratov.

South Ossetia closed its border with Georgia. The Leader of the republic, Eduard Kokoity, explained that the move was necessary as provocations from Tbilisi have increased in the last few days.

In addition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized Saakashvili's request that American observers be included in the EU Mission as an attempt to destabilize the situation in the South Caucasus and to provoke a conflict between the US and Russia.

Russian MFA: Georgia signed a different document for resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict

МИД России: Грузия подписала другой документ по урегулированию грузино-осетинского конфликта

The contents of the document for resolving the conflict in South Ossetia, which was signed by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, differs from the one which was signed by the presidents of Russia and France, reports head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. "We're a bit puzzled by the fact that the document which was signed by Saakashvili appears to differ from the document which was agreed upon by the presidents of Russia and France," stated the minister, emphasizing that the difference in question is in need of further clarification.

According to Lavrov, in the document signed by Saakashvili, the clause which states "these below-mentioned points are supported by the presidents of Russia and France, and the presidents of Russia and France call on all parties to sign this document" is completely absent. He also noted that the document--the one which contains the aforementioned clause--was signed by the presidents of Russia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.

Earlier, Temur Iakobashvili, the Georgian State Minister for Reintegration, stated at an August 16th press conference that the 6-point plan for the resolution of the conflicts in Georgia, on which Russian President Dmitry Medvedev put his own signature on August 16th, was signed by the presidents of the three countries--Georgia, Russia, and France. He noted that reports saying that the presidents of Abkhazia and Ossetia had also signed the agreement were incorrect, and emphasized that if such an agreement does exist, then Georgia does not regard it as an official document.

IA Regnum

Lavrov and Rice discuss the question of Saakashvili's departure

Лавров и Райс обсудили вопрос ухода Саакашвили

US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalizad stated on August 10 that head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed in a telephone conversation the question of the departure of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaliy Churkin remarked that in history "there have been many democratically and semi-democratically elected heads of state," who at certain times have become the cause of problems within their own country. If this is the case, then sometimes such leaders make the decision to leave, remarked Churkin.

IA Regnum