and the legacy of that decision well here's what the russian leader had to say. 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 mikheil 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 pull over into an armed conflict and i reiterate that this feeling was present both in moscow and in . 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 that 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 obsolete 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 the would accommodate everyone and would eventually facilitate a reintegration of georgian territory that's acceptable for all the parties in that cage a negotiation naturally this is what i told him what word for word and his response was spot 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. at the same time georgia was getting more and more visits from envoys from across the ocean as they would be . 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 condoleezza 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 with almost 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 george is 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 a but they still believe that 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. 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 renewed. 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 the legion wouldn't be able to target civilians or settle. on the russian federation because as you know it's all mixed there. surprised you were referring to the peace and foursomes operation and i keep thinking back to today libya and syria when do you consider it acceptable to step up what's your rationale for deciding whether it's ok to launch a piece of equipment mission here 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 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 with them it 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 the so-called rebels in the program dappy 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 faced and we will eventually have to take some decisions on syria to actually we've been watching developments very attentively the situation is changing and so we're really active. it answers the rest of the thoughts 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 de facto government argued that the fighting in simi valley had claimed two thousand lives that was the number that was announced that later on russia's investigative committee estimate of the casualties at no more than one hundred fifty people meanwhile it was this alleged toll of ten thousand this 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 the. i have explained by rationale for taking out a decision on the numerous occasions you see i didn't get any figures for the motivation this isn't exactly

a case for mathematics and more noise more let me remind you what was going on there on the night between all. the seventh and eighth well i received a phone call from the defense minister i was on the 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 damaged 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 your settings trying to send us some kind of message and i will later minister reported to me this is no bluff they've allowed. and they're using grad rocket launchers and whatnot i said all right i'll wait for another update. some more time to fast in the minutes to cold again i have something to tell you i believe they've just leveled a tent 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 that are 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 who called whom first did you call prime minister putin in beijing first or did he call you how did you and the 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 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 talked and then we talked when he came back but even before

his return i called a meeting. the security council i explained my position my decision to return fire and engage in conflict security council members voiced their support for my decision sometime later we had the meeting in which mr putin attended a dinner was. moving on the question of russia's accession to the world trade organization is very relevant these days russia wants into the w t o w c o wants russia the problem as far as we understand is that georgia's blocking russia's accession it is the only country that's not in favor of russia joining the w. there's been talk about georgia agreeing to agree to russian succession 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 prospects of russia joining. us. 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 o t o a session we respect that position as we respect the stance of any of us over interstate as long as that position is in line with the goal set out in the charter trade trade preferences custom regimes we're 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 abkhazia and south or 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 currently. the tickle reality yes that it was serving it as a prerequisite for russia to have a session we were in for that. especially is not too high a price to pay think you very much mr president with. her mother. the air live. to. the sun to. the sun. come

up. soon. to. top stories from our team the aaa that's now america's accounting exiled to its

credit card it's taken down a wrong in the ratings as investors shutter over how the debt ceiling was told. the news rounded off the walking week on global markets with wall street's worst week in over two years worsened by europe's debts and fears of a second possible american session. as egypt's former president goes on trial for a mass killing and corruption really a public scene the replacement regime failing to meet the revolutions demands. but it may bring the reform quarter of a million people in tel aviv angry that the government's living costs get out of hand. and sports news is next. door and football here big spending have unveiled their latest signings in the us right. paraded in front of their fans before their win over told me yesterday the former chelsea man joining brazil legend call us at the club i have all the action from the russian premier league

just tell them. thanks for watching the sport and these are the headlines so lead down league leaders two years scarred two nil in the russian premier league to go within two points of top spot. reaching new heights on but he still northwinds big to boost his chances of going to the world championships. the word in ohio for tiger woods is adam scott takes the right lead the world golf championship. first the russian premier league coach leach on his ability has praised his team's counter-attacking style that saw them grab it sooner when i reach here in moscow to victory putting them within two points of the army. at the top of the table two goals within one second half minute being the damage alexander could you called opened after fifty four minutes of the pinpoint headed there before

a shockingly unmarked alexander a new call for swiftly made it to neil beaton keeper can feel any hopes any remain unbeaten for a night straight again and inflicted second defeat of the season on the young man. maybe it's looking a little bit bigger than they deserve but anyway they use their chairs as we did and so it's always there when they go home with three points we. need to keep going to keep training so that's it elsewhere angie unveiled russian midfielder unity zhirkov ahead of their home game against told who they'd be taken ill thanks to a first tough go from alexander proving he calls on the lake strike from a catch go gee if you stay for the keep up the pressure on the league leaders with tom lingering in twelve spot meanwhile twenty seven year old here called joins from chelsea on a four year deal and hopes to play in next week's game against moscow. where an impressive five game winning streak came to an abrupt end by now moscow using three

one to get banging went ahead there. kevin could i knew then equaliser the cracking strike. but david of got the second and it was another p.c. to give the band the lead once again. thank you for having the. take to back among the tech among today's eighty second minute. move of the bottom to a one zero victory for them hoping despite having two men sent in the last seven minutes . all today rubin will look to hold their slide down the table they are currently fifth and travel to second bottom spot right now terry spot at my. oh my taste new manager would take a sip to keep up his incredible stuff at the club going to his full win from four gangs against bottom side previous of yes he might safe out being one of the big

spenders since the russian transfer window opened on oldest the first four new players have joined the side which has helped. revive the moscow club koester. the railway men have become the forty eight year old portuguese specialist nine club in his coaching career besides the club circuit josie close a were also managed the national team only showing india during the twenty ten feet a world cup qualifiers where he defeated like sober media austria and the faroe islands but these moments the team the team made his mark off against. because when the games challenge some teams in the beach of course yes the sides are too. but i think. the first scene is easy mind now this gets the acquisitions forward to leave it i said oh the twenty two year old record dorrian international joins look on see from live on today in the spanish 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 live on tape another new arrival is the nigerian international twenty four year old winger a big not was also somewhat of a club hopper and enter 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 players from eight year old are coming over to russia today to participate so you are in different clubs here and also you know when a close plays in in europe and the globe's plays in the champions league or in the europa league play it more serious players a lot. west ham team mate man who held a caution also joined looking at the during the summer transfer period the portuguese defender's trophies include the french cup in two thousand and six and

the netherlands sides all in two thousand and seven and that's when i was pushing as and i know in. four stories i go and. it is a test to see that degree and training you see he's the same you want to play for port a very beautiful boy and you also when or the game looking at cvs latest signing is spanish midfielder al there's a zapatero who joins the club from sporting lisbon it's twenty six year old started in the league as our goal where he played for five years scoring five goals and winning the spanish super cup in the process in an interview with locomotives official website zapatero admitted that he had offers from four spanish clubs as well as if they spar mock england's new castle and olympiakos from greece however looking at these offer outweighed the rest mainly because of the new head coach his job as a coach say was personal involvement. so look at the bar yet to lose a match or even concede a goal under josie close sales 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 for a month cos regards a moscow. now ending the munched united face much to 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 at old trafford yesterday before heading down to london i was fifteen thousand people turned up to get a glimpse of their new signings midfielder ashley young defender phil jones and keeper david de gea all on show citing the familiar faces the end of it you see kept in the side of a twenty three title alwynne rooney stuart seventeen goals last season midfielder downs that by the way had a light fitness test at if they need to share he's missed most. season with the bikes. and finished off pre-season tour of america the thing you'll win over mexico is club america had to be on

a picking up garbage via the first mid-way through half and then in the final minute of the gangs of youths like that got the second from point blank range sixty eight thousand pounds the cowboys stadium to watch this one and i head back home to face your own and the cost of that. possible play reality bridge the following week in the super cup that rivals in good form to ending that tour china with a six no brushing a local side tianjin qaeda attack it got the first spot the others came from angle demetria and gonzalez one persona are now they getting the pick of the goals of this effort putting ben's in a store twice that's enough for the match coach joe to ring i said didn't you want me to buy. in the good seeing. 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 to morrow i don't read again more than once more players. because i want one more blues i'm happy with the short score both of really good scenes with the bird sings. in athletics olympic high jump champion but he soon off 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 has now won the last major event ahead of it the twenty six year old played to me says 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 seal off to take gold at the beijing olympics elsewhere two americans triumph in the sprints with world record holder the same boat sitting out water that blew away the field in the men's two hundred meters while karma left him yet or was paralysed in the weeds hundred metres as she not

stop a second straight victory in the diamond lead. tiger woods is slip further down the leaderboard at the world golf championship in ohio the man to catch there is adam scott he's found a 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 right lead on the sixteenth with that in point approach here he ended the day with a sixty six to put him on twelve under par overall with a round to play that is a shot ahead a fellow was strange jason day a nineteen year old japanese star. tiger woods meanwhile had another disappointing round he carded a seventy two would start the final round on one over admitting he struggled on the greens where to be fair he had a bit of a stinker. yesterday i didn't hit the ball well starting a fix to put together a. really good combo of asserting the ball the right fly the throat ever to show

was flush everything was back to where it was to begin the week or differences i didn't call again today and as. two two horseshoes. three foot eighteen and you know better make a bowl of this and was around sixteen of us four shots right there funny with just over a month to go until the rugby world cup in new zealand than kartik eight fifteen points as the all blacks come to three feet astray at thirty points to fourteen and they're trying in canada in all clint to retain the bledisloe cup the traditional for the gang. nations morale on the all blacks dominated from the off at eden park where they have not lost a test or strike since nine hundred ninety six new zealand were seventeen the all up at half time off the tries from nani and kevin mia laundry and city veni to evolve to put the magic beyond that forty minutes into the second half when connecting with me for a spectacular run to make it twenty five seven digby ioane and rocky elsom sin did

get on the school board for the wallabies in the second period but the visitors never took but getting back into this one new zealand in actually wins from to try and actions following their success against the plate in south africa last week and a quick look elsewhere england while was at twickenham yesterday twenty three points nineteen and scotland got an arabic trait. that brings us up today but more a bit later on next. well. bringing you the latest in science and technology from around the world. we've got the future covered.

in india the old geezer made ability to move the joint people chose the violence the great way to go to the grand imperial truly the torch was the. new kind of

letter till the trolls wished her to sit down to go and. read this and the colonel was her job as a retreat. leaks top stories from our team the aaa that's now america's accounting anxiety its credit crowd has taken a wrong in the ratings as investors shutter over how the debt ceiling raise was handled. well it sounded awful walking bleak on global markets sort of wall street's worst week in over two years or so by europe's debt seven years of a second possible american recession. as egypt's former president goes on trial for a mass killing at a corruption aloof public see the replacement regime failing to meet the revolution's demands. but in neighboring ease rel the reform rally swelled to a quarter of a million people in tel aviv angry that the government's left living costs get out of.