Russia nixes restored borders: Hopes for ceasefire proposed by EU fading

Opinion

Barry Artiste. Now Public Contributor

Absorbing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, may be the new Moscow buzzword versus President’s Bush pointing a finger accusing Russia of invasion and taking by force a Democratic nation. Bush’s recent speech, perhaps subliminal is interspersed with the word Democracy, in what seems a way to instill patriotism to the US allies as an excuse to perhaps a legitimate reason why the US should get involved in Georgia.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2008/08/15/pf-6457116.html

Russia nixes restored borders Hopes for ceasefire proposed by EU fading

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GORI, GEORGIA -- Russian troops searched selected cities, forests and fields in Georgia yesterday, looking for military equipment left behind by Georgian forces.

In Moscow, Russia's foreign minister declared Georgia could "forget about" regaining its two separatist provinces. Late yesterday Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said a column of more than 100 Russian tanks and other vehicles was moving toward Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city.

The convoy had set out from Senaki, another city in western Georgia, he said.

The latest developments presented a huge challenge to the EU-sponsored ceasefire agreement intended to end seven days of fighting.

The accord had envisioned Russian and Georgian forces returning to their original positions. "One can forget about any talk about Georgia's territorial integrity because, I believe, it is impossible to persuade South Ossetia and Abkhazia to agree with the logic that they can be forced back into the Georgian state," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters as Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev, met in the Kremlin with the separatist leaders.

The comments and meeting were a clear sign that Moscow is considering absorbing South Ossetia and Abkhazia.