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Timeline
Crisis in the Caucasus - 2008
Russian / Georgian Crisis and its Impact on Azerbaijan
Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
Pale purple color designates events directly related to Azerbaijan
July 10
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice meets Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. Aug 5 First explosion on Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline results in pipeline closure of Azerbaijan's major pipeline. Aug 6 48 Russian journalists gather in South Ossetia prior to attacks between Georgians and Russians. Aug 8
Attack between Georgian and Russians in South Ossetia. Both sides - Georgia and Russia - claim the other side started the attack. Olympic Games Open in Beijing (In attendance among many heads of State: US President Bush, Russian Prime Minister Putin and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev). Photo: Putin and Bush at Olympics.
http://visualrian.com/images/item/328999US urges all parties, Georgians, South Ossetians and Russians, to de-escalate tension and avoid conflict.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=83649Aug 9
Russians attack the Georgian city of Gori (south of South Ossetia) where Georgians have a military base which they destroy. Saakashvili declares martial law in Georgia. Aug 11
Renewed Russian offensive captures Russian town Gori. The offensive seemingly cancelled a Russian commitment made earlier in the day that the Kremlin has no intention of widening the Ossetia conflict.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=83912Azerbaijani police disperse a demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy in Baku against Moscow's actions in Georgia. Transit of Azerbaijani goods through the Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi is suspended because of the fighting between Russian and Georgian forces. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan asks Russia to allow the doubling of oil shipments via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. BTC oil pipeline fire extinguished. Explosion started on August 5.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=83900Aug 12
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered an end to Russia's military operations against Georgia, stating that Russia's aim of restoring security for civilians and peacekeepers in South Ossetia had been achieved. But fighting continued BP shuts down the 90,000-barrel-a-day pipeline to Supsa on Georgia's Black Sea coast from Baku in Azerbaijan.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=84102Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates its support for the territorial integrity of Georgia but does not name Russia as the aggressor.
http://www.zerkalo.az/rubric.php?id=35084&dd=12&mo=8&yr=2008Aug 13
French President Nicolas Sarkosy and US Secretary State Condoleeza Rice meet in Paris. Sarkozy rushes to broker a ceasefire with Russian leaders.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7559222.stmAug 14
Georgia's parliament voted Thursday to withdraw its membership of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a Russian-led alliance of 12 former Soviet republics. The Russian Foreign Ministry called Georgia's decision to quit the CIS irresponsible and regrettable.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=84294Aug 15
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russian peacekeepers remain in Georgia as 'guarantors of peace'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7563624.stmUS Secretary of State Condolezza Rice travels to Georgia and Sakashavili signs a six-point Peace Plan. Preliminary ceasefire between Russia and Georgia. It does not hold. President Ilham Aliyev receives David Harris, Executive Director of the U.S. Jewish Committee Source: ADA Bi-weekly Electronic Newsletter.
http://www.ada.edu.az/?f=faculty&p=p#Poland agrees to host anti-missile system for the U.S.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=84362Aug 16
Russians occupy port of Poti in Georgia. Aug 18
Rail Bridge in Georgia used for oil transport is blown up. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan arrives in Baku for a three-day visit. Grenade Explosion in Baku at Friday evening prayers at Abu-Bekr mosque kills three. Khazar Ibrahim, Press Secretary of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces that Baku has no immediate plans to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States as Georgia had urged other members to do.
http://www.day.az/news/politics/127867.htmlAug 19
U.S. Ambassador to Baku Anne Derse says that Moscow's actions in Georgia threaten not only that country but the development of other countries in the region.
http://www.day.az/news/politics/127900.htmlAug 20
The United States reiterated its hope to ship humanitarian aid to Georgia through Turkey's Bosporus Straits, but added it would abide by the Montreux Convention. Local media said the two ships tonnage exceeded the limits set by the convention, which restricts the passage of warships from the Dardanelles and Bosporus. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Baku to discuss recent developments in neighboring Georgia. Aug 21
Russia builds Ossetia 'buffer zone'
Russian troops are fortifying a "buffer zone" around the disputed South Ossetia region with eight military posts and a ban on Georgian aircraft.
They also plan to maintain a military presence around Abkhazia, another separatist region in the west of Georgia,
http://www.en.baybak.com/russia-builds-ossetia-buffer-zone.azrAug 22
Another terrorist explosion in Baku at the electric transformer station. Two killed. Aug 23
Russian military lists road checkpoints in central Georgia. Aug 24
Train carrying Kazakh oil explodes on the railroad west of Gori. US Navy destroyer USS McFaul arrives at Batumi port in Georgia claiming to be carrying humanitarian supplies for Georgians. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev charges that the United States are re-arming Georgia under the guise of humanitarian aid.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=85011Aug 25
US State Department announces that US Vice President Richard Cheney plans to visit Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on September 3, 2008, in Baku. This is his first visit to Azerbaijan. Cheney also plans to go to Ukraine and Georgia. Visit takes place at the same time as National Republican Convention to nominate John McCain as President of the United States. Azerbaijan delivers its first oil cargo to the National Iranian Oil Terminals Company for transit purposes, Shana news agency reported.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=67534§ionid=351020103Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates its support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia.
www.ans.az/index.php?nid=85489Tankers began loading oil from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline for the first time since a fire affected the main outlet for Azeri crude to U.S. and European markets on August 5.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=85490Aug 26
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan returns to Baku to meet with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. See earlier visit on August 20, 2008. Russia recognizes independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity says he will ask Russia to set up a military base in the Georgian separatist region.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=85679Aug 28
Georgia Parliament unanimously votes to break diplomatic ties with Moscow. Aug 29
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan meets with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Ankara, Turkey. Azerbaijanis demonstrate in front of the Russian Embassy in Baku to demand that Moscow withdraw its troops from Georgia.
Source: ADA Bi-weekly Electronic Newsletter.
http://www.ada.edu.az/?f=faculty&p=p#Aug 30
Georgia tightens visa requirements for Russian citizens following the Kremlin's decision to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
http://www.ans.az/index.php?nid=86172Russia closes its embassy in Tbilisi.
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