Question: How will you asses the statement Russian Foreign Minister S. Lavrov made regarding the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia at a joint press conference he held on 17 July together with Serbian Foreign Minister V. Jeremic: ‘Our western partners try to link the immediate signing of a non-use of force treaty with the signing of a document on the return of refugees, which is absolutely unreal at this stage because the return of refugees requires a calm situation and confidence building, and only afterwards will it be possible to discuss this issue’ - Minister Lavrov is quoted as saying.

On 17 July 2008 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze held a meeting with EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to Georgia Eric Fournier and First Counselor of the European Commission’s Delegation to Georgia Robin Liddell.

On 17 July 2008 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze held a meeting with the EU Troika delegation represented by Eric Fournier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France - current EU Presidency, Peter Semneby, EU Special Representative for South Caucasus, Robin Liddell, First Counselor of the European Commission’s Delegation to Georgia and Ivan Jestřāb, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic - next EU Presidency.

of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili met with Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. From the Georgian side, the meeting was also attended by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgi Bokeria, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nino Kalandadze and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Federal Republic of Germany  Levan Duchidze.

On July 15-16 2008 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili paid a working visit to France. In the frames of the visit, Mrs. Tkeshelashvili met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Bernard Kouchner and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Republic of France Jean-David Levitte.

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the launch on 15 July of large-scale military exercises - Kavkaz-2008 in the North Caucasus, in the immediate vicinity of the Georgian state border, involving approximately 8000 servicemen and 700 pieces of military hardware. The military exercises will also involve units of the Pskov and Novorossisk divisions of air landing troops.

On 17-18 July 2008 Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier will pay a working visit to Georgia.

On 10 July 2008 the Georgian side made an official appeal to the President of the UN Security Council to convene a special session in connection with the act of military aggression committed against Georgia by the Russian Federation on 8 July 2008.