S.Ossetia seeks permanent Russian base(rejects presence of international observers)

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The leader of the breakaway region at the heart of the Georgia-Russia conflict said on Monday he would ask Moscow to station a military base there and rejected the presence of international observers.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity told Reuters that Russian citizens in his Moscow-backed region, which broke away from Tbilisi's rule after a war in the 1990s, needed protection from Georgia.

"We will ask the leadership of the Russian Federation for there to be a Russian military base on the territory of South Ossetia because Russian citizens live here," the 43-year-old leader of the small province in the Caucasus mountains said.

"It is their decision," he said in a telephone interview from the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LI3220.htm

[Turbineguy]

1. "Dad...

can I have $20 so I can be independent tonight?"

[maddezmom]

2. US Official: Russia Moves SS-21 Missiles Into Georgia

US Official: Russia Moves SS-21 Missiles Into Georgia



(Updates with quotes; comment on Russian troop movement)

WASHINGTON (AFP)--Russia has moved short-range SS-21 missiles into South Ossetia, possibly putting the Georgian capital Tbilisi in range, a U.S. defense official said Monday.

The development came amid other signs that Russia was adding ground troops and equipment to its force in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, strengthening its hold over the breakaway regions, officials said.

"We are seeing evidence of SS-21 missiles in South Ossetia," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said the short-range missiles should be capable of targeting Tbilisi.

"We're seeing them solidify their positions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia," the official said, adding that "more troops and more equipment" were evident in the enclaves.

more> http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=...

[Karrion_Krawler]

11. Wow

Looks like Russia has plans for it's own "missile shield" to protect itself from "rouge" nations.

An idea championed by our own President.

[maddezmom]

3. Excerpts from interview with S.Ossetia president 18 Aug 2008 15:50:54 GMT

~snip

ON PERMANENT RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN SOUTH OSSETIA:

"We will ask the leadership of the Russian Federation for there to be a Russian military base on the territory of South Ossetia because Russian citizens live here."

"Despite the attempts in the West to discredit the role of the Russian Federation in defending her citizens, I would like to have seen how the situation would have developed if instead of Russians there were citizens of the U.S. here under attack from Georgian forces."

ON U.S. STATEMENTS THAT SOUTH OSSETIA IS PART OF GEORGIA:

"Let the Americans decide their own American problems and let the people of South Ossetia decide their own future. America just the same as Georgia is responsible for the genocide of the South Ossetian people."

"South Ossetia will never be a part of Georgia ... The future of South Ossetia is as an independent state."

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LI145362.htm

[kirby]

4. But didnt Chechnya want to be indepdant?

And I thought Russia crushed that? They do not appear to be consistent in their arguments.

[plasticsundance]

9. Chechnya is an autonomous oblast of Russia

As was S. Ossetia. S. Ossetia wants to form back with N. Ossetia, which is in Russia. It was Georgia that declared S. Ossetia was no longer autonomous in the early 90's, but that's when S. Ossetia delcared its independence. S. Ossetia has always identified with Russia.

Chechnya has been part of Russia since 1577.

It's not the same or even that simple as you're making it.

[AntiFascist]

6. Too bad Americans are only given the propaganda...

why should democracy matter when there are oil pipelines at stake? All we hear is: Russia invaded Georgia and killed inoocent people.

[maddezmom]

5. Putin: Russia prepared to help form S.Ossetia govt

MOSCOW, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Russia would be prepared to send specialists to help form a government in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russian news agencies quoted Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as saying on Monday. Putin said the South Ossetian government would be formed by its own president. "If he requests the help of our specialists, of course we would fulfil this request," Interfax news agency quoted Putin as telling a government meeting.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity told Reuters on Monday that he would ask Russia to station a military base in the small, pro-Russian region of the Caucasus where fighting between Russia and Georgia erupted on Aug. 7-8.

"South Ossetia will never be a part of Georgia ... The future of South Ossetia is as an independent state," Kokoity said in the interview.more:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LI204681.htm

[WriteDown]

8. What a generous offer.

[maddezmom]

7. OSCE struggles to secure deal on Georgia monitors

OSCE struggles to secure deal on Georgia monitors 18 Aug 2008 19:45:03 GMT
Source: Reuters
VIENNA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Europe's rights and security body, the OSCE, on Monday failed to agree on sending up to 100 extra military monitors to observe a ceasefire in Georgia, but the talks were continuing, a senior official said.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had called a special session to discuss a Finnish proposal to dispatch additional monitors to observe a fragile ceasefire between Georgia and Russia.

Russian forces crushed Georgian troops sent to recapture the Moscow-backed, breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia on Aug. 7-8. Moscow's intervention has drawn sharp Western condemnation.

The OSCE currently has eight military monitors in Georgia and was forced to close its field office in South Ossetia's main town, Tskhinvali, because of the fighting.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LI221619.htm

[Wilms]

10. .