marks three years since conflict with georgia devastated the region but brought about recognition the morial services are being held in the capital city hall for the victims of the conflict. on the eve of the anniversary of president medvedev spoke with r.t. along with the radio and georgian t.v. channel pique about why he took action and the legacy of that decision his interview coming up. 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 isn't 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 into the sea could you tell us that he managed to agree on anything with the georgian president back then. 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 at odds with 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 her 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. but 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 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 our meetings at the. one world question in here a but they still believe that while 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 tried 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 the legion wouldn't be able to target civilians or settle. on the russian federation because as you know it's all mixed they're. surprised that you were referring to the peace and horsemen to 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 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 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 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 we're really active. and it enters the midst 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 set 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 two thousand and 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. i have explained by rationale for taking that decision on the numerous occasions you see i didn't get any figures from lotus nation this isn't exactly a case for mathematics it more let me remind you what was going on the last little bit on the night between. the seventh and it all gets the eighth 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 down i told the minister that we should check this really completely out of his mind maybe it's just a provocative act and maybe he stress tests are set eons trying to send us some kind of message and i will later the 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 order some more time passed 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 you who called him first did you call prime minister 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 more 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 security council members voiced their support for my decision some time 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 was into the w t w c o wants russian the problem as far as we understand is that georgia is blocking russia's accession it is the only country that's not in favor of russia joining the w t. 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 prospects of russia joining the w t and. 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 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 suggestions made by the swiss president regarding this and i recently discussed it with president obama we're ready to implement the model but switzerland has proposed to us however if they try to change current. the tickle reality serving is a prerequisite for russia. we won't fall for that. is not too high a price to pay thank you very much mr president. please.

the british. markets. find out what's really happening to the global economy. headlines tune in to watch. the week's top stories on our team the u.s. stripped of its prized aaa credit rating for the first time triggering fears of

another. crisis as investors ready for a black monday the downgrade comes despite the white house making a last minute deal with the republicans to raise the country's debt ceiling. in the eurozone debt was provoked a turbulent week with european central bankers now agreeing to buy italian and spanish bonds to stop the rot brussels. as worried if italy's economy fails it would be too big to rescue and could drag the whole currency down with it. demonstrations in israel as a quarter of a million protesters demand the government drive down the cost of living or go prime minister netanyahu sets up a team to look at reducing taxes but the opposition says he's trying to end the protests not deal with the issues. and artie's in the republic of south has said he had to mark three years since the conflict with georgia devastated the region but brought about recognition from oriel services being held in the capital city hall for victims of the conflict. stay with us here on r t sports up next.

hello and welcome to the sports news and these are the headlines. gave you the season spartak moscow miss a penalty but come from two goals down and made a floodlight failure to a four to a ten month you know russian premier league thrilla. plus that's why they're champions manchester united come from two goals down to beat rivals manchester city three two in stoppage time to win the community shield at wembley. and lives to reach russia come back from three goals down to beat switzerland six for the crown european beach champions. refers to conventional football and an unconventional match having missed a penalty and ensured a break for a flop like failure spartak moscow came back from two goals down two in four to

attack in a pulsating match in the russian premier league the home side so a first through after that off on thursday morrissey and netted a rebounding penalty from a few tears just before. missed the penalties thanks to nil it stayed there three minutes after the interval had x. and i ever saw the reds and the pull the goal back from the penalty spot before our eight made it to two off to seventy six minutes but then the lights went out of the new stadium and it took fifteen minutes to get them partially religious and when the game resumed and development netted a goal each deep into injury time people spartak the win for two yes in complete contrast it was an uneventful game for luck motif who held one goal of the struggles by bottom side please about self. well meanwhile twice former champions are being kept up the pressure on the top four with a controversial one though when that second bottom spot no trick defend only under

the silver star his feeble first half penalty to know it was to to go. you call that the bank that saved his blushes with a seventy second me strike despite a wave of protests from the home side who insisted the strike handled the ball in the build up still moving to victory and stay fifth. while in the early kick off and he was not i cannot easy to know when is it not only our time and that for the match winners runs finites. opened thirty two minutes and. in the second half was in charge blasted in a new long range cracker from a set piece to condemn his poor side and the third defeat in four games. one on saturday champions and eat humble league leaders take on moscow to nil to get the gap to the top two just two points two goals within one second half minutes did the damage in the country cough and in the fifty four minutes with a pinpoint header before an unmarked that's when the new cost swiftly made it to

nil and simply you go back and say it was near post the defeat was only the second this season for to sky wasn't now unbeaten thing nine games. so a red if it so far this season sets a skull supporters 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 poetic present the chance to walk out onto the pitch with their heroes scott mcclellan has more of. 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 purchase i read the announcement and says 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 dream a country in name to 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 kid's birth certificate to see ask and they will get no picture. units each leader at their favorite clear one of their games that often missed calls that were made that told me that i could lead a player on to the pitch i said yes straight away because he loves his can interact with the cape is my favorite. those lucky enough to be among the first eleven up against it a 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 senate 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 but. it's not the see it started last year it will probably soon be restrained the memories that gratitude for their parents put thinking in the reminiscence of a special birthday present and more than likely remain in their hearts for the. scope of our two. while over in england nani scored twice including the stoppage

time winner is defending premier league champions manchester united came from two goals down to beat f.a. cup winners and fierce rivals manchester city three to and win a thrilling community shield encounter when really the additional curtain raiser to the new season proved to be a thriller i will give united a psychological lift as they aim to top flight title number twenty city took the lead after thirty eight minutes joleon lescott hitting fast they were top goalkeeper dobby the head and first half stoppage time to inject have enough space to run in five home city second however united's chris smalling volley to go back soon after the restart and united will level within an hour nani chipping keeper joe hart then diffident a stoppage time hesitation five bins and company on the halfway line allowed nani to run unchallenged round hot and complete a scintillating comeback. meanwhile russia have won the year or legacy of a final in beach soccer for the second time in their history after coming from three goals down to beat switzerland six four in moscow as much every ports. russia

has already established itself as one. the world's biggest soccer powerhouses alongside giants like brazil stay in forty goal to name just a few the euro league super final held in moscow for the first signed by the way proved once again that they seem is a force to be reckoned with come the world cup however the home team started the super final slow and that's because it lightly the swiss side for their euro league runners up in last year's tournament managed to upset the souls out improvise the show read out three times by the end of the first period their star player and look at what he must go striker deion stunk of scored a brace and he says he made borrero added the third she could have come to me it was obvious the two one to the top in the opening minutes billion we couldn't hold on to the bull and eventually conceded some pretty easy gills with thanks to which we were by far will come from the second i threw it on wards i think and achieved the result of the russians finally brought some joy to the fans in the first minute of the second period after scoring a penalty switzerland replied with

a goal of their own a minute later but despite the disadvantage the home side managed to build on that first goal and equalized at the end of the second period it's not easy to play here against three thousand people and one strong russian team. but i think they make a good game but also you know what i she's one of the best team in the both. that. you have to learn from this this game the scoring made it four four and so the clock showed three minutes before the final whistle and it was then that russia took the lead for the first time in the super final through the meeting shisha and two minutes later the same player with the yearly crown beyond any doubt for russia after scoring his second for the team russia have become the champions of the continent for the second sign while switzerland have lost the euro league super finals for the second time in a row however both teams will get a chance to square off once again at the upcoming world cup in september that's why

it's eleven beach soccer season baseball from all over the. locations are not good at all it's not that it's the compete or it's all corners that the world where russia is considered to be one of the favorite things robotic all three are actually moscow finally twice ok on detroit red wing center pavel that so has won this year's column off try to say they were orders given by russian newspaper soviet's sport which recognizes the top russian player in the n.h.l. and r.t. spoke at that soup but life on and off the ice. it's a hard question sledge grosser someone with a half an hour of being system there i'm out there from the mike not only in the inside team on the toilet when there's a phenomenon they working like. built to last fifteen years might be more when the people who are hard to jump inside to feel like to be in the families of those

wanting to everybody that is more towards days tweeting from here. i'm still playing soccer i'm not a large side to have a lot of. thanks stuart so let's go so i can like more. this is my way when i'm drunk i just think in point that kind of plays hard to some of them blindside was with them stuck in a play in the hockey i don't find a time for soccer and i'm a big one. it's so much deliberate both sides have from the top to muses but then up also a little bit told me even though my during the year they did was just going to help

and i was for this one just. businesslike can be neutral. maybe they're not strong enough to hold somebody or three grams doesn't so more than be a change in bold little bundle t. he sold his bundle to you know when he would stop working so i never thought work was bundled into. to be a secret of this or be immortal it's going to sneak into this post whenever people lowballed you'll stop watching but looking for.

fishing. russian built a. thing is going to the slide mall some of the ones that never looked so efficient so close to live with double for those with a look it's a number of close to me in a small way quiet like what it's but i had to find an old hall so we're all being wired more fishtank in the things i'm older than. and that's all the sport by foot.

in india they moved from a joint below to. the gateway to the grand imperial truly the torch was the. socialist you see don't need to go and. run this in the kennel was a total retreat. the week's top

stories on our t.v. the u.s. stripped of its prized aaa credit rating for the first time triggering fears of another global financial crisis as investors ready for a black monday asian markets have opened and immediately got into negative territory. in the eurozone debt woes provoke a turbulent week with european central bankers now agreeing to buy italian and spanish bonds to stop the rot. plus israelis take to the streets as a quarter of a million protesters demand the government drive down the cost of living hit the brakes. and we go to the republic of south. the conflict with georgia devastated the region but finally brought recognition. five am in moscow bringing you today's.