yet i've spoke to r.t. and other broadcasters about why he took action and the legacy of that decision well here's what the russian leader had to say. i said mr president thank you very much for agreeing to answer our questions then let us go back to the events of two thousand and eight back then you met with the georgian president saakashvili your meeting took place in st petersburg and there was an impression at that point both in tbilisi and in moscow that we had arrived at some sort of an accord and the dispute would not be allowed to pile over into an armed conflict and i reiterate that this feeling was present both in moscow and in tbilisi could you tell us that he managed to agree on anything with the georgian president back then. that you know catherine i had the same impression at the time i can still recall meeting president saakashvili for the first time it was in some petersburg we met in the constantine palace and mr secretary arrived i told him literally you know there are

many problems in the region at the moment georgia is an obstacle these unrecognized states but i can assure you that as a newly elected president of russia i shall do everything in my capacity to help you find some compromise solution that would accommodate everyone and would eventually facilitate a reintegration of georgian territory that's acceptable for all the parties in the gauge a negotiation naturally this is what i told her word for word and his response was but of course we are ready to cooperate and i also have this impression that we could at least try to find some creative solutions if not a new chapter in time but first of all there was an opportunity to meet on a regular basis which i can tell you earnestly i spent the next month checking regularly for any feedback from our georgian counterparts. but at the same time georgia was getting more and more visits from envoys from across the ocean as they would be double. shifts the moment of truth for me as i realized later while analyzing those events in hindsight over and over again came with a visit by u.s.

secretary of state condi lisa rice following that visit my georgian colleague simply dropped. all communication with us he simply stopped talking to us he stopped writing letters and making phone calls it was apparent that he had some new plans now and those plans were implemented later. mr president am i correct to assume that the way you see the visit by the u.s. secretary of state was meant to urge president saakashvili. do you think the united states was deliberately encouraging georgia to pursue a conflict that was no i don't think so the united states is a very large country headed by pragmatic people but in politics connotations a nuance is a very important as it is i don't believe the american said georgia's president to invade but i do believe that there were certain subtleties and certain hints made statements like it's time to restore constitutional order or it's time to be more assertive which could effectively feed saakashvili apparent hopes that the

americans would back him in any conflict that they would stand up for georgia and even go to war with the russians therefore i do see a relation between ms rice's visit to georgia and the events that followed just as i see a link in my further discussions with the u.s. president our phone conversation and then our meetings at that. one more question in here were they still believe that russia's initial response was legitimate self-defense the further actions of the russian troops were excessive why wasn't it an option to push the georgian forces out of the set and stop at that point to change. of course. you know sophie people are free to make speculation like that and i have come across the many times to try putting yourself in the shoes of russia's commander in chief my shoes that is sure we could have merely forced them out and stopped there but what we're hearing from georgia we should fall back to

our initial position and our american friends and their allies will help us rearm get our new aircraft and whatnot and then we should resume the same offensive with a new. well letting them do that would have been a crime against the memory of those who died protecting their land and therefore our mission at the time was to destroy georgia's war machine so that it wouldn't be able to target civilians and settle. on the russian federation because as you know it's all mixed there. surprised you were referring to the peace and forced into operation and i keep thinking back to today libya and syria when do you consider it acceptable to stand what's your rationale for deciding whether it's ok to launch a piece of equipment missions got that there is russia billion to gadhafi in libya and here it is imposing sanctions against syria how do you accommodate your decisions on georgia back then and russia's stance on today's prices. you see alexey it's always case by case there are no identical countries and there are no

identical solutions i guess it's clear to you what is going on in libya there's a man who has been running the country for forty years and at some point he decided to use force against his own people and this was condemned by the entire international community including russia which is we're not taking any part in the military campaign reza few nations are attempting to instill order in libya through military means we don't think it's the right thing to do but there is one nuance you should keep in mind georgia had been split into three parts by the time of the war which should have been about pulling the country back together for them rather than merely restoring constitutional order of libya is still in one piece such a risk does exist for libya but so far the parties in the conflict ending the so-called rebels in the program daffy forces have pledged to preserve their country's territorial integrity so the situations are quite different however i'm

not saying this to explain how we make decisions i'm merely trying to demonstrate that all of these situations and scenarios are totally diverse. this goes for other countries as well. what about syria and. syria is a more complex issue but sadly their situation has been unfolding in a very dramatic way so far. all of us practical politician should keep a close watch on the developments in that country what gadhafi for one had issued unequivocal orders to slaughter opposition activists by contrast syria's president never ordered anything like that unfortunately people are dying in syria in grave numbers and that arouses our deepest concern that therefore in my discussions with president assad during our personal conversation with and in our correspondence i've been advocating one principle idea that he should immediately launch reforms reconcile with the opposition restore civil accord and start developing

a modern state should he fail to do that he's in for a grim face and we will eventually have to take some decisions on syria to naturally we've been watching developments very attentively the situation is changing and so were our objectives. it answers that it's the guts of this is a look at some of the numbers in the wake of the war in two thousand and eight russian envoy said the representatives of south a sect is a de facto government as the fighting in simi valley had claimed two thousand lives that was the number that was the now that later on russia's investigative committee estimate of the casualties it normal's one hundred fifty people meanwhile it was this election of two thousand that would serve to some of the main reasons for launching this so-called peace important operation how do you account for this discrepancy now three years after that you'll hear. from i have explained by rationale for taking it as a decision on the numerous occasions you see i didn't go to any figures for the

motivation this isn't exactly a case for mathematics and more noise let me remind you what was going on the last little bit on the night between. the seventh the eighth i received a phone call from the defense minister i was on vacation at the time sailing down the volga river and the whole world was looking forward to the olympics that were about to take off in china the minister told me that georgia had launched a full scale combat operation to be honest my initial reaction was completely down i told the minister we should check this really completely out of his mind maybe it's just a provocative act and maybe he stress test satins trying to send us some kind of message and i will later minister reported to me this is no bluff they've done. it and they're using grad rocket launchers and whatnot i said all right i'll wait for another update. some more time if asked in the minister called again i have something to tell you i believe they've just leveled up ten full of our

peacekeepers killing every one of them what was i supposed to do i said return fire and shoot to kill no figures had been announced at that point. mr president you said you gave the order to return fire the operation continued after the heavy weapons rolled in and the conflict turned into an all out war could you tell us about how you made the decision to continue the operation and another question that all our colleagues would like answered you who called him first did you call prime minister first or did he call you how did you and prime minister called you need to move. the first time i contacted him about a conflict was about twenty four hours after it had broken out that involved was already ablaze mr putin just made a statement condemning tbilisi's move that was the right thing to do of course we spoke twenty four hours after the attack over a secure line and i do understand it's not very appropriate to discuss matters like this by south areas it's also a lot of trouble to establish

a secure line with someone who's in a different country we taught and then we talked when he came back but even before his return i called a meeting. of the security council i explained my position my decision to return fire and engage in conflict the security council members voiced their support for my decision sometime later we had the meeting in which mr putin attended. moving on the question of russia's accession to the world trade organization is very relevant these days russia into the w t s w t o wants russia the problem as far as we understand is that george is blocking russia's accession it is the only country that's not in favor of russia joining the w. yes there's been talk about georgia agreeing to agree to russia's expression if russia lifts its impact on the import of georgian goods will make some other concessions is russia willing to barter for it and what is your take on the prospect of russian joining.

that was very well put the one point i don't want to do is barter for it that would be immoral georgia has a position on russia's w t o a session we respect that position as we respect the stance of any state as long as that position is in line with the goal set out in the charter trade trade preferences custom regimes we are ready to discuss it all the imports of wine and mineral water we will discuss anything but the problem is something else in essence our colleagues in georgia trying to force a new edition of the political problem under the guise of w t o a session i'm referring to entry points control over the traffic of goods then they will want to get the e.u. involved our position on this is clear if you want information about the traffic of goods including transit through and south of setia we will provide it via a modern electronic database i've agreed to the suggestions made by the swiss president regarding this and i recently discussed it with president obama we're

ready to implement the model that switzerland has proposed to us however if they try to change current political reality serving it as a prerequisite for russia over session we won't fall for that. recession is not too high a price to pay here thank you very much mr president. losing . sleep. to the.

wealthy british style sun. sometimes going to the. market why not. find out what's really happening to the global economy with much stronger for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune in to conjure reports on our. lead stop stories from our team the aaa that's now america's accounting anxiety its credit card has taken down a rock in the ratings as

a best shot are over how the debt ceiling blaze was handled. that are proud of alpha walking league of global markets with wall street's worst week in over two years by europe's debts and fierce of a second a possible american session. as egypt's former president goes on trial for a mass killing at a corruption public see the. placemat regime falling to the gravel daily to meet the revolutions demands. but if they bring israel the reform rally swelled what quarter of a million people in tel aviv angry that the government's let living costs get out of. course that's the bad u.i. here is that it came out on top of the big game of russia yeah that's right high test. here scar in moscow a big scalp for them out of action from plus a look ahead to the charity shield in england just into my.

hello there thanks for watching the sport and the other headlines. down leaders to sky to new in the russian prime elite to go within two points of top. class to new heights on the ceiling of wins big cities chances of going to the world or letting championships. while the more trouble for woods in ohio is adam scott takes the out right in the world championship. the russian premier league. he has praised his team's counter-attacking style that saw them grab it to know when over two years scar in moscow the victory putting them within two points of the army men at the top of the table two goals within one second half minute did damage alexander because you called both and after fifty four minutes with a pinpoint header before a shockingly unmarked alexander a new call of swiftly made it saying we'll be seen keeping equal out and fear at the knee of popes and eight remain unbeaten for

a ninth straight game and inflicted only a second defeat this season on the army. maybe it's looking a little bit bigger than they deserve but anyway they use their chances we didn't so it's always there when they go home with three points we we have to keep going to keep training so thats it. elsewhere angie unveiled russian midfielder you because you got the head of their home game against tommy they'd beat you neal thanks to a first half goal from alexander pruett nicole underlaid strive for here and you stay fought to keep up the pressure on the league leaders while tom lingering twelfth spot meanwhile twenty seven year old you of course joins from chelsea on a four year deal and hopes to play in next week's game against moscow. elsewhere an impressive five game winning streak came to an abrupt end for third place dinar moscow and gold in h.r. . helped give ban a three one win on home to take it but i commend the documentary the eighty second

minute when. news of the boston saved with a one nil victory they're struggling polgar despite having two men sent off in the last seven minutes now today rubin will look to hold their slide down the table they are seventy fifth on travel to second boston strong now while tearing apart at moscow and locomotives new manager in syria hopes to keep but it's incredible to start out the club going for his fourth windfall gains against bottom side previous to get. one lock on my face while blocking my teeth have been one of the big spenders since the russian transfer window opened on the first of all just for new players have joined this side as a new coach see it looks to revive the moscow club is roman cross the red. the railway men have become the forty eight year old portuguese specialist ninth club in his coaching career besides the club circuit josie close they are also managed the national team only during the twenty ten feet

a world cup qualifiers where he defeated the likes of rimini austria and the faroe islands but these moments the team and the team a his more confidence. because when the game sat challenge some teams in the beach of course yes the stats as you talk. about icing. the fire scene is amazing minds now this gets the acquisitions forward to leave it i said oh the twenty two year old ecuadorean international joins look only see from live on say in this banished league he played thirty two matches for his country's national team and scored five goals in the process over his relatively short professional career he's played full five teams including manchester city basel sporting lisbon and spain's molokai and live on to another new arrival is the nigerian international twenty four year old winger big sur a big not was also somewhat of a club hopper and injure milan player he spent the last two seasons on loan first

for molokai in spain and the following year at west ham in the english premier league you can see a lot of plays from a year old are coming over to the russian elite to participate so you are in different clubs here and also you know when a close plays and in europe a club stays in the champions league or europa league it motivates players a lot of the knesset west ham teammate manual that cost also joined looking at the viewing this summer transfer period the portuguese defenders trophies include the french cup in two thousand and six and the netherlands sides all in two thousand and seven with an as posturing as a. final even. for just four years ago and there. is a test to think that dignity and training is a. you want to pay for this from somebody who also gave. signing is spanish field or alberta zapatero who joins the club from sporting lisbon it's

twenty six year old started. where he played for five years scoring five goals and winning the spanish super gop in the process in an interview with looking at seeds of official website zapatero admitted that he had offers from four spanish clubs as well as if they spar mock england's castle and olympiakos from greece however offer outweighed the rest mainly because of the new head coaches. personal involvement. so looking at the bar yet to lose a match or even concede a goal under josie cozier olds the management team is now ready to reach new heights in the remainder of the season and that should help the team achieve that goal cos regards moscow. now an england mansion ited face matched the city in the charity shield at wembley today this is the traditional curtain raiser to the new premier league season which kicks off in a week's time you know i did held an open training session for fans and our traffic yesterday before heading down to london fifteen thousand and stand up to get their

first glimpse of new signings with ashley young offender phil jones and keep it all on show so to the familiar faces in the man the video to captain the side to the twenty for the title and wayne rooney scored seventeen goals last season which sealed it down for you had a late fitness test ahead of today's i mean she will be missed most of the pre-season with five. in the city for a season of american visiting the winner of the making of america at the piano picking out for the first midway through the first half and then in the final minute of the game said if he got a second from point blank sixty eight thousand fans packed the cowboys stadium for this one boston i head back home to my own. in the catalonia. possible play rearming the following week in the city pickup their rivals in good form to ending their tour of china with the six they'll fraction of local side and from the

pay that package got the first spot the other spending from the idea and then selling one christiane and now they got the people to go so they said good and putting benzema scored twice after that but afterwards procures in marino said he didn't need to buy. the good seeings. competitive everybody feels part of it everybody must be ready to play and at the same time the young boys from the second team they know they have a chance. so i hope tomorrow i don't really again more than once more players. because a little more blues i'm happy with the short score those of really good sings the bird sings. there's more plays now in athletics olympic high jump champion under the sea in love could be going to next month's world championships in south korea

after all the russian has so far failed to qualify for the showpiece tournament but is now one the last major event ahead of it and the twenty six year old cleared to meet is thirty six centimeters at his first attempt at the diamond league meeting in london while three years ago a similar jump was good enough to see him off to take gold at the beijing olympics elsewhere two americans triumph in the sprints with world record holder saying both sitting out well to dix blew away the field in the men's two hundred meters while our military jet was pierced in the women's one hundred meters as she knocked up a second straight victory in the diamond lead. another news tiger woods has slipped further down the leaderboard at the world golf championship in ohio the man to catch there is adam scott the founder winning for winning formula with tigers for my caddie steve williams scott was in a four way tie for the lead at the start of the day but moved into the out right

lead on the sixteenth with this pinpoint approach he ended the day with a sixty six to put him on twelve under our overall with a round to play that's a shot ahead to federer strain jason day a nineteen year old japanese video. tiger woods meanwhile had another disappointing rant he carded a seventy two more start the final round one over admitting he had struggled on the greens where to be fair he had a bit of a stinker. yesterday didn't hit the ball well starting a fix to put together again and. really had a good coming of the sort of the ball the right flies right over to show was flush everything was back to where it was to begin the week or differences i didn't call him. today. to two horseshoes. three foot eighteen and you know better make a bowl of the sand was around sixteen of us four shots right there i'm finding that just over a month to go until the rugby world cup in new zealand don carty kicked fifteen

points as the all blacks come to really big strayer thirty points to fourteen and they're trying a sure thing can take in all cling to retain the blood just like up their traditional keva for the gang judy boosted the home nations morale in the all blacks dominated from the off at eden park where they have not lost the test to a strategy since nine to ninety six in new zealand where seventeen up at half time after prize from our normal and having me alarming and city veni city vast so you put the match fourteen minutes into the second half the wing connecting right on right smith rush spectacular run to make it twenty five seven degree ione and rocky and did get on the school board for the wallabies in the second period but the visit is never looked like getting back into the new zealand and i had two wins from two in the triune nature following that success against the plate in south africa last week. a quick look elsewhere in the big wales at twickenham yesterday

twenty three points nineteenth and scotland got a narrow victory there. so that's the sport for the moment more to add.

in india old geezer made ability to move joined people to the violence the gateway to the grand imperial. the torch was the. new kind of letter to. say don't need to go and. read this and the colonel was virtually as a treat. to look at this week's top stories from our t.v. the aaa that's now america's accounting anxiety its credit crowd has taken down a wrong in the ratings as investors shutter over how the debt ceiling raise was

handled. and that is rounded off a rocky week of global markets with wall street's worst week in over two years worsened by europe's debts and fears of a second possible american recession. was egypt's former president goes on trial for vascular corruption where the public see the replacement regime failing to meet the revolutions demands. but if they bring israel the reform rally swelled to a quarter of a million people in television angry that the government's left living costs get out of. nine am here in moscow you're watching r t now a look at the week's top stories higher borrowing costs weakening business and consumer.