setia war president medvedev spoke to r.t. and other broadcasters about why he took action and the legacy of that decision here's what the russian leader had to say. that's a question 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 tbilisi could you tell us that he managed to agree on anything with the georgian president back then. but you know catherine i had the same impression of the time when 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 unrecognized state 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 if that's acceptable for all the parties in that cage a negotiation naturally this is what i told it word for word and his response was spot of course we are ready to cooperate and i also had 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 leesa 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 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 after the meetings at that. one more question in here open 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. 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 any. 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 that you were referring to the peace in foursomes operation and i keep thinking back to today libya and syria when do you consider it acceptable to stand for what your rationale for deciding whether it's ok to launch a piece of equipment here is russia billion to gadhafi in libya and here it is imposing sanctions against syria how do you accommodate your decisions on georgia batman and russia's stance on today's prizes. 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 so 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 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 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 that much 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 conversations 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 naturally we've been watching developments very attentively the situation is changing and so we're really active. and it enters the midst of the butts 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 argue 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 as one of the main reasons for launching this so-called peace important operation how do you account for this discrepancy now three years after the battle here. i mean i have explained by rationale for taking that decision almost numerous

occasions you see i didn't get any figures from lotus nation this isn't exactly a case for mathematics let me remind you what was going on the last little bit on the night between. the seventh little gets the 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 satins trying to send us some kind of message and i will later minister reported to me this is no bluff they've allowed artillery barrage and they're using grad rocket launchers and whatnot i said all right i'll wait for another update or some more time if asked in the minister

called 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 you 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 to meet. 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 a. meeting on the question of russia's accession to the world trade organization is very relevant these days russia into the w t o w c o wants russian 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 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 prospect of russian joining. us.

that was very well put the one point i don't want to do is barter for it that would be a moral georgia has a position on russia's session we respect that position as we respect the stance of any of us are in a state 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 and south of setia we will provide it via a modern electronic database i've agreed to the suggestion is made by the swiss

president to go to 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. the tickle reality yes that's what the serving is as a prerequisite for russian recession we won't fall for that. essentially is not too high a price to pay thank you very much mr president. please . move.

in the czech republic is available in the hotel and saw a central hotel prima vera most regal to full stop by you to which i am a taste in bosnia and herzegovina available in. the children of each. but you know what you know. there are a boutique hotel. in serbia multis available in regency. week's top stories from our t.v. the u.s. credit rating has been downgraded for the first time since one nine hundred

seventeen that's despite the last minute debt ceiling deal. this is com on top of our rock a week on the global market small street worst performance in over. two years in derby and troubles with just the share roller coaster ride is likely to continue on monday. egypt's former president is on trial for mass killing and corruption but a weary public says the revolution is not over as the replacement regime is failing to meet their demands. and just across the border in israel over a quarter of a million people have rallied against the government they are demanding better living conditions and say they're ready to do what it takes. sport news is next with kate here in archie. hello welcome to the sports news this sunday afternoon and he has

a taste of what's coming up looking out twice former champions are being able to keep up the pressure on the top teams like eighty second spot on the russian premier league. while helping president to scale moscow enrolled birthday boys and girls to look out onto the pitch the play is. one can take. on a role while number three followed by claims the ninth when a road reached the final and that your insurance like that. but first of all and twice former champions remain are at second bottom spot looking for a victory that would put them back into the top four of the russian premier league govern the as men are out there having lost two of the last three games well meanwhile cover that up to no. later on today in spots like moscow to its new manager joseph he said it will be hoping to make it four wins from four games this side welcome to the bottom to guess about. the price they need counter-attacking

stoma second place i'd like to make either test on saturday go into points and we only went two goals within one second half minutes did the damage alexander cocksure golf open fifty four minutes with a pink one for an unmarked car with the right to no difference if you go out in favor of his near post so nice and i unbeaten in nine games for taste and last but only at this time of the season. the greasy have been going to look we have played c.s.k. many times the know the attacking dangers of their forwards such as love a dumbbell so we made a decision to limit their space and to defend deep to try to catch them on the break they had more position but we were the team that won. so much to forget that a scar on their support. just but some of the fans will want to remember this day for a very long time as a group of birthday boys and girls were given the perfect present. chance to walk onto the pitch with their heroes when these lyrics from their memories scott

mcclellan has more. all these kids have at least a couple of things in common one of them of course is their undivided love for the red and blue club says moscow and the other is that they're all celebrating their birthday in august i must say to fritz i read the announcement and said sky website and now both my sister and i are here to read the players out. the announcement sasha was talking about is the club's promo company and aimed at winning over the hearts of supporters from an early age in this case it's both boys and girls aged eight to twelve all parents have to do is submit their kids' birth certificate to see his car and they will get an opportunity to leave it their favorite player and one of their games that bomb was calls that were made that told me that i could lead a player on to the pitch i said yes trade away because he loves his cat and ereka cape is my favorite. those lucky enough to be among the first eleven up against going to birthday present which their friends will probably talk about for months after all it is

a dream come true to the day you're idle to such an important much like the one between c.s. and zen it that i've been a fan of says scott ever since i can remember myself and i would not miss this chance for anything something like this may never happen again. it's not the see a star lost as it will probably soon be erased from their memories but gratitude for their parents' quick thinking and the reminiscence of a special birthday present will more than likely remain in their hearts forever. scarred mclennan are to. well in the meantime latifa being one of the big movers since the transfer window opened on august the first for new players have joined the sixth place moscow signed which is nominated by jessica said oh who as we heard has led lucky to three. three matches so far as someone calls referee points. 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 during the twenty to ten people world cup qualifiers where he defeated the likes of remaining austria and the faroe islands but these moments the team and the team now has more confidence. because i mean the game sat challenge some teams in the beach of course yes the stars asia too. but they're seen. in the far scene using these mines now this gets the acquisitions forward to leave it i said all the twenty two year old ecuadorean international joins look only see from live on today 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 yvonne say another new arrival is the nigerian international twenty four year old winger big sur a big knot 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 a 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 stays in the champions league or in the europa league playing it more diverse players a lot of the knesset west ham teammate man emailed acosta also joined looking at sea during the summer transfer period the boards the defenders 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 posing as a. foreigner in. four stories ago and. it's best to think that dignity and training is easy to say if you want to pay for board very beautiful but i mean you also when order gave looking with these lasers signing is spanish midfielder albert as up as there who joins the club from sporting lisbon

it's what his six year old started in lagos zaragoza where he played for five years scoring five goals and winning the spanish super gaap 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 newcastle 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 rose personal involvement. so look at the bar yet to lose a match or even concede a goal under jos a cosy arose the management team is now ready to reach new heights in the remainder of the season and that the new york resistance should help the team achieve that goal ramon koester of artsy moscow. now being in the sunday afternoon defending premier league champions matched united will face f.a. cup winners and fierce rivals manchester city in the community shield at wembley the traditional curtain rises to the new domestic season which will kick off in

a week's time united held an open training session at old trafford on saturday before heading up to london over fifteen thousand fans turned up to get a glimpse at the news of the side's new signings midfielder ashley young defendant phil jones goalkeeper. or on show so to wear the familiar faces of man you did it you have to count to sign to their twentieth league title this season and wayne rooney who scored seventeen goals in the last campaign would feel that darren fletcher also had a like fitness test head at the wembley showdown you can miss most of the pre-season for the five of us. i know but also to finished off their pre-season tour of north america with a two no went to the mexican side of america adriano i picked up the advance of the first moment i threw the first hole. the final minutes they be paid yet to perfecting the range sixty eight thousand fans price the cowboys stadium to watch this one so let's head back to face you know not some the final of the catalonia

cup on tuesday ok. moving on tiger woods to slip further down the leaderboard at the world golf championship in ohio while the man to catch that is adam scott who stand a winning formula with tigers for mchattie steve williams scott's was in a four way tie for the lead at the start of the day but moved into the outright lead on the sixteenth hole with a pinpoint approach he ended the day with a sixty six to put him on twelve under par overall with one round left to play that's a shot ahead of fellow australian jason day nineteen year old japanese start rio she koua woods meanwhile had another disappointing round he counted the seventy two almost start the final round one iota admitting he'd struggled on the greens when it was clear he's putting it let him down. yesterday i didn't hit the ball well starting oh and i fixed it put together again and. really had a good coming home starting the ball over the right flight the right tragedy ever

to show was flush everything was back to where it was to begin the week or difference as i didn't bowl again today and two two horseshoes. three put eighteen and you know made a make a bogus and was there and sixteen of us four shots right there. and finally it was as extreme as it gets in the latest x. finds event in poland as biker and the idea broke his leg to concede the series lead to twice defending champion knight adams really a crash during qualifying on thursday to fracture his femur norwegian has since been operated upon and has to be back in action before the end of the year the injury rooting him out of the season finale in sydney next month while back at the city stadium the capacity crowd were treated to a drive by local ski jumping out of knowledge for time and the champion is preparing to race in next year's tackle rally well back on two wheels eventual victory adams was surprised he actually won the event but the americans backflips

did one with judges. it was he he popped open the champagne bottles in the end also securing a narrow point cushion up the top. and that's all from the sports that's for this bulletin these join me again in next and who has see this. it used to be an ideal place for a holiday to change in a moment. the wounds of war are still visible. the republic is not only relieved but also shaping the future.

we'll. bring you the latest in science and technology from around the world. the future. wealthy british. markets. find out what's really happening to the global economy for no holds barred look at the global financial headlines for you need to cause a report on our. hungry

for the full story we've gone to. the biggest issues get a human voice face to face with the news makers. stories from this week on our chief financial crunch stripped a last minute deal on the debt crisis can save the u.s.

from a shock credit downgrade. which rounded up wall street's worst week in over two years and with the debt crisis in europe also worsening and markets are braced for monday may have. egypt's toppled president goes on trial on charges of mass murder and corruption but people feel the revolutionary regime that replaced him is little better. but in neighboring israel hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets an unprecedented nationwide rally demanding the government make the living costs lower or go. you're watching the weekly here in r.t. this sunday i'm used to now with the latest news and a look back at the week's top stories on friday the financial.