Georgia on my mind…

  • Ukraine urges Russia to move its warships out of Ukrainian ports
    The Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, back from a visit to Georgia to offer support in its confrontation with Moscow, has introduced tougher regulations on the movements of Russian warships based in his ex-Soviet state. Long at odds with Moscow over its campaign to seek NATO membership, Ukraine’s pro-Western leadership has issued statements backing Georgia’s position and urging Russia to withdraw from the country’s territory. The Foreign Ministry this week reserved the right to prevent ships from the Black Sea fleet returning to base in Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula if they had taken part in military action.
  • Georgian President grateful for Poland’s help
  • U.S. disputes Moscow claim that Georgian pullout complete
  • US demands Russia return seized HumveesThe United States has formally demanded the return of five US military vehicles seized by Russian forces in Georgia but Moscow has not indicated it will do so, a Pentagon spokesman said Friday.”The United States did demarche the government of Russia with respect to the handful of Humvees,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said, referring to the military’s all-purpose, four wheel vehicles.
  • US warship heads to Georgian port with humanitarian aidOne of three US ships carrying relief supplies to Georgia cleared Turkish straits and headed for the Black Sea Friday, where it was due to arrive in the Georgian port of Poti in a few days.The two other ships — the Coast Guard cutter Dallas and the Mount Whitney, currently being loaded up in an Italian port — are also bound for Georgia with humanitarian aid.