devastated the region brought about recognition from oriel services being held in the capital city hall for the victims of the concert. on the eve of that anniversary president medvedev spoke with r t along with a whole mosque the radio and georgian t.v. channel peak about what action he took and the legacy of his decisions interview coming up. 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 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 into d.c. 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 absolute 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 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. 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 our meetings at that. one more question in here of that they still believe that the 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 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 therefore our mission at the time was to destroy georgia's war machine so that it wouldn't be able to target civilians i settled. on the russian federation because as you know it's all mixed they're. 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 state what 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 back then 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 door 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 that much all of us practical politician should keep a close watch on the developments in that country like a daffy 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 naturally we've been watching developments very attentively the situation is changing and so we're really active. and it enters the midst of that but 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 de facto government has the fighting in simi valley that claimed two thousand lives that was the number that was announced that later on russia's investigative committee an estimate of the casualties at no more than one hundred fifty people i think in the meanwhile it was this alleged toll of two thousand and 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 battle here. i have explained by rationale for taking that decision almost numerous occasions you see i didn't get any figures for the motivation 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 and it all 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. 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.

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 ten full of our peacekeepers killing every one of them what was i supposed to do i said return fire and shoot to kill or 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 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 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 the meat. 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 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 into the w t w c o wants russia the problem as far as we understand is that georgia is blocking russia's accession it is the only country that's not seen favor of russia joining the w. there's been talk about georgia agreeing to agree to russia's 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 russia joining. us. that was very well put the one point i don't want to do is barter for it that would be a. georgia has a position on russia's w o 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'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 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. serving it as a prerequisite for russia. we won't fulfill that. essential is not too high a price to pay thank you very much mr president. please. just say.

look. at. the british. markets. find out what's really happening to the global economy. headlines tune in to. the week's top stories here on our team 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 black monday asian markets have opened and immediately got into negative territory. in the euro zone debt woes provoking a turbulent week with european central bankers now agreeing to tell you in spanish bonds to stop the rot in brussels. economy. fails it would be too big to rescue and could drag the old currency down it. plus demonstrations in israel as a quarter of a million protesters demand the government drive down the cost of living or go prime minister netanyahu has set up a team to look at reducing taxes but the opposition says he's trying to end the protests and not deal with the issues. and we go to the republic of south side here to mark three years since the conflict with georgia has devastated the region but finally brought recognition memorial service is being held in the capital city vall for victims of the conflict sports is next stay with us here on r.t. .

hello 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 need a floodlight failure to win for to a ten month you know russian premier league thriller. 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 live 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 rebound of penalties make it to nil just before half time. missed the penalties thanks to nil it stayed there three minutes after the interval had x. and i ever saw the reds and the meet you can 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 pushing the realest and when the game resumes and development netted a goalie deep into injury time he was spot on the win for two yes in complete contrast it was an uneventful game from lockyer motif who held to a 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 no win at second bottom spot no chick defend only under the silver saw his feeble first half penalty denied with

a good. because that little banker saved his blushes with a seventy second neat 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 closeted i came back easy to know when is it not only i had been there for a match winners from sinai and. opened thirteen minutes and. in the second half i was in church last in a long range cracka from a set piece of content to my side and the third defeat in four games. one on saturday champions and eat humble the league leaders take on moscow to no to get the gap to the top two just two points two goals within one second half minutes did the damage to them because a cough and a fifty four minutes with a pinpoint header before an unmarked that's when the new call for us was limited to no it's simply ego i can say it was me

a post the defeat was only the second this season that is sky was neat and now unbeaten being nine games. so i read defeat so far this season for it's ayscough 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 the site approached i read the announcement and sasco website and now both my sister and i are here to lead the players out. in instances she was talking about as a club stream a company in india 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 say 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 i have to discount an interest in 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 be to your idol 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. if not to see it start last which will be soon be restrained the memories that gratitude for their parents put thinking in the reminiscence of a special birthday present more than likely remain in their hearts for. scott mcclellan are to. watch over in england money 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 a webley the additional curtain raiser to the new season proved to be a thriller along if united a psychological lift as a top flight title number twenty city took the lead after thirty eight minutes joleon lescott heading fast they returned goalkeeper dobby the head and in first half stoppage time to inject having enough space to run in five home city second however united's chris smalling volley to go back soon after the restart and united were level within an hour nani chipping keep joe hart then diffidence a stoppage time hesitation by vincent kompany on the line allowed nani to run unchallenged round hot and complete a scintillating comeback. meanwhile russia how will be your only a super fine in beach soccer for the second time in their history after coming from three goals down to beat switzerland six four in moscow as a month of reports. russia has already established itself as one. world's big

soccer powerhouses alongside giants like brazil stay in fortune gold to name just a few the euro league super final held in moscow for the first sign 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 putting it lightly the swiss side for the euro league runners up in last year's tournament managed to upset the souls out improvised be sure read up three times by the end of the first period their star player and look at what's even moscow striker de young stunk of scored a brace and he says he made borrero added the third she could have got into it was obvious that who won two top form in the opening minutes billion we could hold on to the bull and eventually conceded some pretty easy gills but thanks to which we were by far will come from the second i fear its own wards i thought and achieved the result of both 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 also one strong russian team. that i think they make a good game but also you know what ash is one of the best team in the world. that. we have to learn from this this game the score remained at four four until 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 proof to me that she should two minutes later the same player for 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 final 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 like eleven beach soccer season baseball from all over the. they should look at all

it's good that it's the to compete or alters the beach saw 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 tracing the war is 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 sledgehammer so when will they have another a drink system there i'm out there for. mike not only in the inside team are not told me there's a phenomenon they will close the deal to this fifteen year some of the more so when the people work hard to jump inside if you are to be in the family as it's going to

everybody it is more towards day's tweeting from here. i'm still playing soccer i'm not a word starts with a lot of. thanks stuart so let's go so i can like more and. this is my way when i'm just thinking clinton kind of plays hard to some of them plans are going to put them stuff in the play in the hockey i don't need funded time for soccer and i am i didn't want to. get so much delivered both sides have from the muses but then i also a little bit cultural to meet in the my during the thirty year day man was just going through a big help and i was just just on. businesslike combination. maybe

i'm not strong enough to hold somebody or but he brings presence will more than be a finger bolt like penalty he sold his bundle to get a loan to stop working so i never stopped working with the us but ultimately. to be a secret it's a be immortal it can't it is new being into this post a number of people a lot of old you'll be stopped watching for looking for. fishing . russian built a. thing is the movement of the slave mall some of the ones that never looked at so

efficient so close a little stumble from those with a look it's a number that's close to me in a small a quiet place what it's but i do find an old hall so it all began i was more fishtank in the things i'm older than. and that's all the sport.

in india. the move to join. the gateway hotel the grand imperial truly was the. most delicious. reza since the kernel was how to treat. the week's top stories on our t.v. u.s. stripped of its prize 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 gone it's negative territory. in the eurozone debt will provoke a turbulent week with european central bankers now agreeing to buy italian and spanish bonds to help stem the rot. israelis take to the streets as a quarter of a million protesters demanding government drive down the cost of living or hit the brakes. and our t.v. is the republic of south three years since the conflict with georgia devastated the region but finally brought recognition. need today's top stories and a look back at the week's news here on r.t. as we've reporting been.