Russia-South Ossetia friendship treaty comes into force

September 30th, 2009 Russia ready for restoration of ties with NATOMOSCOW — Russia is ready to fully restore cooperation with NATO which was suspended in the aftermath of the Russia-Georgia war, the Kremlin said Wednesday. A planned trip to Moscow by NATO's secretary-general should demonstrate that the alliance is also ready for developing ties, said Nataliya Timakova, a spokeswoman for President Dmitry Medvedev.

September 20th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia intends to significantly upgrade marine patrols off the coast of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, the Russian news agency Interfax reported Sunday. The dispute over the status of Abkhazia and the other breakaway republic of South Ossetia led to war last summer between Russia and Georgia.

September 15th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia signed Tuesday agreements on military cooperation with the former Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a Russian defence ministry spokesman said. Russia recognised the two republics shortly after the end of last August's war with Georgia over South Ossetia, which began when Georgian forces attacked the region in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

August 5th, 2009 South Ossetia seeks to go it aloneTSKHINVALI, Georgia — A year after their soldiers helped repel Georgian troops battling for this separatist-held capital, South Ossetians say they are grateful for Russia's patronage and recognition of their independence claims. But some wonder whether their tiny would-be nation can go it alone: Only Russia and Nicaragua have established diplomatic relations.

August 4th, 2009 Obama, Medvedev discuss Georgia, arms controlMOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday spoke with President Barack Obama about Georgia, just days before the anniversary of last year's Russia-Georgia war, a Kremlin statement said. The two leaders shared a telephone conversation at Moscow's initiative, the statement said, adding they also discussed arms control, the Middle East and Iran.

August 1st, 2009 South Ossetia claims Georgian mortar attackTBILISI, Georgia — Authorities in the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia said Saturday that two mortar shells had fired into the territory from Georgia proper, and Russia quickly warned that it might retaliate. Georgia denied the claim and accused Russia and South Ossetia of provocation before the first anniversary of Georgia's short but fierce war with Russia last summer.

June 5th, 2009 Lukashenko accuses Russia of blackmailMINSK, Belarus — Belarus' leader has accused Russia of trying to blackmail Belarus into recognizing the independence of Georgia's separatist provinces. Alexander Lukashenko says Moscow has made recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia a condition for Belarus to receive the last $500 million of a $2 billion loan.

April 30th, 2009 Russia signs border deal with Abkhazia, S. OssetiaMOSCOW — Russia signed a deal with Georgia's two breakaway regions Thursday giving Moscow the power to guard their borders — a move sharply criticized in Tbilisi.

March 7th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia will have 3,800 troops deployed in Abkhazia for the next 49 years, Sergei Bagapsh, the president of the breakaway republic of Georgia, said Friday. Russia recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states Aug 26, 2008, two weeks after the end of a five-day war with Georgia.

February 13th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia Saturday welcomed the UN Security Council's resolution on extending a mandate of a UN observer mission in Georgia and Abkhazia, saying it would help ensure stability in the region. The UN Security Council Friday unanimously passed Resolution 1866 to extend by another four months a mandate for its observer mission in Georgia and its former region of Abkhazia, which is recognised as an independent state by Russia.

February 11th, 2009 VIENNA - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) extended Thursday a mandate for its unarmed military observers in Georgia, the organisation said. The 56-nation organisation moved to keep 20 monitors in areas adjacent to the disputed region of South Ossetia until June 30.

February 7th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The US has expressed regret for Russia's plan to establish military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, urging the Kremlin to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 'The US regrets the Russian Federation's expressed intention to establish bases in the territory of Georgia,' US State Department said Friday in a statement, adding that the plan 'without the consent of the Georgian government would clearly violate that commitment'.

January 22nd, 2009 MOSCOW - The Russian foreign ministry Friday said Georgia's expanding military presence on the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia continued to be a matter for grave concern. It said the Georgian military and the police presence called for 'special attention on the part of the UN and other international organisations operating in the region'.

January 18th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree banning exports of military and dual-purpose products to Georgia, the Kremlin press service said Monday. Under the document, valid until Dec 1, 2011, the government is to develop ways to restrict military cooperation with countries supplying Russian or Soviet-made arms to Georgia.

December 24th, 2008 TBILISI - The US and Georgia would sign a strategic partnership agreement in Washington Jan 4, Georgia's foreign minister said Thursday. 'I am 99 percent sure we will sign the document on January 4,' Grigol Vashadze said at a briefing, adding that the text of the agreement was being finalized.