The Devil Went Down to Georgia

TBILISI (AFP) — Georgia on Thursday launched a diplomatic offensive against Russian moves to build closer ties with two rebel regions, accusing Moscow of breaching Georgia's sovereignty and calling for a UN Security Council emergency session.

The former Soviet republic's pro-Western president, Mikheil Saakashvili, called for "serious actions" from the international community and sent senior ministers to the US and Europe to press Georgia's case.

"We demand that Russia stop all actions which breach Georgia's sovereignty," Saakashvili told ministers at a cabinet meeting, his press office said.

On Wednesday, Russia said it would intensify cooperation with the two pro-Moscow breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in trade, culture and other areas and provide "complete protection" to Russians living there.

Saakashvili called on the international community to react, saying "we need serious actions, not only words from our partners in the next days and weeks."

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Georgia is not going to given in to Russia's attempts to breach its sovereignty. The diplomatic tactics of Russia seem to be failing. This is making Georgia very unhappy and they are getting the UN envolved.

Gotta Give a Little to Get a Little

Mr Ban deems that with Russia’s economy developing, the country will manage to boost its investments in the organization. Reuters reports that Secretary-General said he made this point during his talks with the Russian officials.

So far Mr Ban has been on a visit to Moscow, which ends on April 11. This is his first official visit to Russia since assuming office. Received by Russia’s president Vladimir Putin yesterday, Mr Ban conducted talks featuring the current activities and prospects of the UN, as well as crucial international problems.

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The UN wants Russia to increase its contributions to the organization. Russia is one of the big members of the UN. This rticle shows the diplomatic relation ship between Russia and the UN. This is important because the UN is beginning to have more influence in Europe than it has in the past.

Russia Criticizes US Ships Off Lebanon

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that the presence of U.S. Navy warships in the Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon was not helping resolve the political crisis in Lebanon.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current council president, said he raised the U.S. deployment at a closed council meeting on implementation of the U.N. cease-fire resolution that ended the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon in August 2006.

"We pointed out the fact that basically all Lebanese political forces expressed their concern about that, including the government of Prime Minister (Fuad) Saniora, and we have said that such acts were bringing up some unwanted historical analogies," he said.

"So we did not see it as a constructive contribution to the situation in Lebanon," Churkin said.

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Russia is complaining that the presence of U.S. ships is not helping problems in Lebanon. The criticism was made to the United Nations Secrutity Council, This article gives another example of Russia international diplomatic relations. It also provides information on the happening around Russia which may influence the country.

Russia: "no legal basis" to recognize Kosovo independence

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Sunday that there is no legal basis for any country to recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

There is "no legal basis for even considering the recognition of this unilateral declaration of independence," Churkin told reporters after attending an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Kosovo.

He said the council agreed that UN Security Council resolution 1244 adopted in 1999 remains in force and that the UN presence in Kosovo remains in force.

"Therefore, there can be no unilateral proclamation of independence," Churkin said, adding that this declaration should be "disregarded by the international community."

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This article shows Russia's unwillingness to give up. They are still trying to hold on to Kosovo. This loop hole may be a big break through in the fight.

Russia Sends Warning to the West

"President Vladimir Putin's decision to suspend Russia's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe, or CFE, treaty is a potent political signal."

Recently, Putin has made it clear that he no intention of cooperating with political actions or initiatives associated with President Bush and Washington, even after "the informal meeting at the start of this month between the US and Russian presidents at the Bush family's holiday home at Kennebunkport in Maine." This is even leading the UN to question just "how far Russia might go to block initiatives backed by Washington and its key allies."

"The Russians have been threatening to suspend their participation in the CFE treaty for several months." Now, Putin's patience has gone and he has suspended "various routine inspections, exchanges of data, and so on. President Putin's decree to suspend application of the treaty is not the same as a full-scale withdrawal - that would require a formal notification of the other parties".

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Although the CFE is no longer relevant, the decision to suspend it is. It demonstrates Putin's strong oppostition against the US, but at the same time, but also shows how Russia is beginning to make similar actions. As the article said, "in a sense Mr Putin is just demonstrating that what the Americans can do in the name of their vital interests, so Russia can also threaten in the name of its national interest." The thing to watch now will be how the West and UN react.

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Russia Blocks Kosovo's Independence

Russsia is blocking the nation of Kosovo from becoming a nation.This articles show the stubborness of Nation. It also shows how the Russian government can abuse its power.

Russia, which has used its UN Security Council veto powers to stall Kosovo
independence, promised to go one step further. If the rebel province declares
independence from Serbia, Russia will see to it that the country is
shut out of international groups.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on
Wednesday, Jan. 16, Kosovo "would not become members of the United Nations, they
would not become members of international political institutions if they go down
the road of unilateral declarations."


Serbian President
Boris Tadic confirmed those sentiments the same day in a speech to the UN
Security Council vowing that his country would never recognize the country's
sovereignty.

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