The FINANCIAL — NATO foreign ministers meet Aug. 18 to decide what to do about Russia and its wrecking of the Georgian economy. But it won’t be just Georgia on the agend, STRATFOR, US based analytical agency informs. "Intelligence reports say Russia is arming its Baltic fleet with nuclear warheads for the first time since the end of the Cold War — and more".
LAst week NATO Allies expressed their deep concern at the escalation of the situation in Georgia, as well as regret for the loss of life, civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. They also reaffirmed strong support for the efforts by the European Union and the Organisation for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to achieve an immediate end to the violence and reach a political solution to the conflict.
NATO Ambassadors deplored Russia's disproportionate use of force. They stressed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and urged Russia to respect it.
According to Stratfor, Sweden has canceled a series of planned military meetings with Russia after Russia’s offensives in Georgia, Reuters reported Aug. 18, citing Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. Reinfeldt said Russian forces must stop their “destabilizing activity” in Georgia, including the destruction of infrastructure or blocking of roads. Sweden and Russia had planned to hold more than a dozen meetings with high-ranking military officials starting in September, along with visits to naval harbors, joint training exercises, and talks on a joint memorandum for submarine rescue operations.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Warsaw on Aug. 20 to sign an agreement for Poland to host of parts of a U.S. missile shield, RIA Novosti reported, citing a U.S. State Department statement. Rice will travel to Poland after attending a NATO meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on the situation in Georgia.
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