Divining the News (DTN)

The Turkish President has put a hitherto banned in Turkey documentary on Russian Turkish solidarity on his web site:

And Germany’s Der Speigel has an interview with Ex President of Georgia Shevardnadze, which reads like, ‘wouldn’t he make a wonderful replacement for Shakasvilli’.

There is also a report from South Ossetia in Der Speigel showing how S. Ossetia was never really part of Georgia, few people speak Georgian, and (a sympathy arousing) how the brave youth fought the Georgian Tanks with kalashnikovs, and that was after Shakasvilli on August 7th promised peace.

As stated above Merkel is also quoted in Der Speigel as saying Russia will now be punished with possible isolation for recognizing the breakaway territories. Perhaps this was obligatory.

Certainly Der Speigel reliably reflects German Government thinking.

And Turkey’s navy is currently cooperating in a naval exercise with Israel and the US in the Mediterranean.

Although very quiet now, it does not seem that Turkey has authorized any new passages for large US ships.

See recent article about Turkey refusing Naval passage on this blog.

Banned film on president’s Web site – Sabah [newspaper]

A documentary film titled “Turkey’s Heart Ankara, “filmed in 1934 by Russian filmmakers upon Ataturk’s request but pulled from broadcast by the Turkish Radio and Television Broadcast Corporation, or TRT, in 1969 with then TRT Director Adnan Öztrak saying the production “was only appropriate viewing for Moscow,” has now been made available for viewing on the presidency’s Web site.

The documentary, which emphasizes Turkish-Soviet solidarity during the Turkish War of Independence, also gives broad coverage to the ceremonies commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Republic’s founding.

“Turkey’s Heart Ankara” boasts not only the famous 10th anniversary anthem but also The Internationale, the communist anthem, in a segment about Soviet Defense Minister Kliment Jefremovics Voroşilov’s visit to Turkey.

Source

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From Todays Turkish Daily news Front Page
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OSSETIAN CELEBRATIONS: Residents of Tskhinvali celebrate recognition of South Ossetian independence by Russian Federation. Russian President Medyedev announced the move, which drew an immediate condemnation from the US, Britain and France. AFP photo

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Der Speigel:

GEORGIAN TANKS VS. OSSETIAN TEENAGERS
The Story of Tskhinvali’s Resistance By Uwe Klussmann in Tskhinvali

When Georgian forces moved into the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali on Aug. 7, they underestimated the Ossetians’ determination to resist them. Young men opened fire with Kalashnikovs and teenagers hurled petrol bombs at tanks. Now the local Russian-sponsored regime is triumphant.

Anyone who wants to know what Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili’s word is worth can see it in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali these days. Pensioner Wachtang Babeyev still speaks a little of the Georgian he learned in Soviet times, when Ossetians and Georgians lived together peacefully, although not without tension, as the citizens of one country. [...]

The cease-fire lasted 12 years until Saakashvili came to power in 2004. As soon as he was elected with a suspicious 96 percent of the vote and with Washington’s blessings, he started holding heated speeches about “criminal separatists.

Source

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SPIEGEL ONLINE: How should Georgia deal with its difficult and powerful neighbor?

Shevardnadze: I’ve always had a good relationship with Vladimir Putin. I’ve known him for a long time and think highly of him. When there were refugee issues that had to be dealt with in Abkhazia I worked closely with him and he was cooperative. I was open with him about our plans to work together with the United States

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Update 27 August: Discovered this friction between Russia and Turkey.
It show’s Moscows leverage.
And it might be real – or a smokescreen, or exagerated.
As an example bear in mind in the Ukraine, the Prime Minister is pro Russian, and the President is pro Western. Turkey’s military is considered pro western and its government not so much.
At the very least there are conflicting attitudes amongst Turkeys Government.

But the ruling party enjoys a lot of popularity, and the country is beholden to Iran and russia for energy.

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Economic relations already volatile

The Russian-Georgian tension bounced from the political sphere to the economic when Russia imposed a restriction on Turkish goods with an internal memorandum. Ankara’s reaction to the restriction has been firm.

“We will disturb them if we are disturbed. We know how to disturb them,” said State Minister Kürşat Tüzmen in a tone of warning referring to the decision.

The Russian customs office is slowing down transactions by keeping Turkish goods waiting at the border and by counting them one by one. Turkish trucks carrying clothes have been waiting at the border for three weeks. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has also talked to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about Turkey’s concerns regarding their meeting last week. It is reported that financial losses could amount to $3 billion if Russia does not change its attitude.  Source