Vafa Guluzade offers Azerbaijan to follow Georgia’s example?

08.08.2008 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia has done right to restore its territorial integrity, an Azeri political scientist said.

“My forecasts are coming true. Moscow leaves the region permanently. It’s incapable to defend its creatures in South Ossetia,” Vafa Guluzade said.

“Saakashvili gambled on the U.S. and NATO and proved right. With NATO’s help, he formed a strong army. I have numerously stated that Russia will leave the region but many treated my opinion with skepticism. Now I do say that in order to return Karabakh, Azerbaijan should be closer to the U.S. and NATO. With their support, we will free Karabakh from separatists. You will witness Russia’s shameful leaving of Armenia soon. After events in South Ossetia, Armenians will understand that Russia will betray them,” he said, 1news.az reports.

http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=26835

Latest press release from the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - http://www.osce.org

*** OSCE Chairman calls for a halt to all military action, re-establishment of contact in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict ***

HELSINKI, 8 August 2008 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, today urged an end to all military action in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

“The intense fighting in the South Ossetian conflict zone risks escalation into a full-fledged war. War would have a devastating impact for the entire region. I urge the Georgians, South Ossetians and Russians to cease fire, end military action and stop further escalation,” he said. “We need to pull back from the brink of a full-fledged war. ”

Stubb said he was in contact with Tbilisi and Tskhinvali as well as all international actors involved in resolving the conflict.

“The international community needs to act together to prevent a full-fledged war. I am in constant contact with my colleagues in the European Union and the United States. I have also called for restraint in the Russian reaction,” he said.

“I condemn the shelling of the OSCE Mission premises in Tskhinvali. The OSCE Mission to Georgia is intensively working with all parties to defuse tensions. The Mission’s work and mandate must be respected by all parties in the conflict. I am ready to increase the number of OSCE observers as soon as the situation allows.”

The Minister said the Special Envoy of the Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, would travel to Georgia immediately. Other immediate steps include an extraordinary Permanent Council meeting in Vienna today. The Chairman-in-Office is planning to visit Georgia in the very near future.

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/item/32530.html

Georgia says it controls most of South Ossetia

Georgia is claiming it has seized control of almost all the towns and villages in its breakaway republic of South Ossetia. It follows a major ground and air offensive involving fighter jets, tanks, heavy artillery and infantry. The capital Tskhinvali and surrounding villages have come under sustained bombardment for several hours.

Georgia’s military action has sparked condemnation from Russia, which has warned of ‘emergency measures’ to end the conflict.

South Ossetia earlier said 15 people had been killed in attacks. Several buildings were reported to be on fire in the city centre after repeated Georgian shelling. The parliament building has been burned down.

Georgia’s Reunification Minister Temur Yakobashvili said the military was continuing its offensive in Tskhinvali. However, he denied reports that Georgian planes had been bombing the city.

“There is no bombing of Tskhinvali. Street battles are continuing in the city, involving our soldiers. We do not plan to bomb our own servicemen in Tskhinvali,” he told a video link-up hosted by RIA Novosti.

The rebel administration had said Georgian Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes had bombed the South Ossetian village of Kvernet as well as a humanitarian aid convoy.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili gave a starkly contrasting version of events, saying Georgia had ‘liberated’ South Ossetia from separatists, and that Russia was bombing Georgian villages.

South Ossetia declared independence after the Soviet Union collapsed in the 1990s, but Georgia rejected the move and an armed conflict ensued.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/28652

NOTICE TO BRITISH COMMUNITY – SITUATION IN GEORGIA

There are reports of serious clashes in the South Ossetia region of Georgia. If you are planning to visit Georgia, we recommend you check the advice on the website of the British Embassy in Tbilisi before you travel: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/georgia.

The situation remains unclear. If you are planning to travel or stay in Georgia please contact the Embassy in Tbilisi to give them your contact details in case it becomes necessary to give further urgent advice to British citizens.

We advise all British citizens travelling in or living in Armenia to register with the FCO via the Locate online registration service at http://www.locate.fco.gov.uk.