August, 2008

• 18 August

  Russia promises Georgia pullout

  Russia’s president has said its forces will begin pulling out of Georgia from Monday afternoon, local time. Dmitri Medvedev made that promise in a phone call with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Union. Sarkozy said that if Russia failed to withdraw …

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• 18 August

  Georgia on path to NATO membership, says Merkel

  In the latest round of shuttle diplomacy on the crisis in the Caucasus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel travelled to Tbilisi. After talks with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, she said the Russians were not withdrawing from his country as quickly as hoped. The German leader, who met President Medvedev on Friday, …

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• 17 August

  Iran’s Non-Oil Exports Up by 145% in 2 Years

  TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Commerce Minister Masoud Mirkazemi said export of non oil commodities, excluding gas condensates, increased by 145% during March 2004 to March 2006.

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• 17 August

  Iran Sends First Satellite into Orbit

  TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran successfully orbited its first home-made satellite Sunday morning.

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• 17 August

  Afghan Officials: Two Iranian Businessmen Believed Kidnapped in Afghanistan

  TEHRAN (FNA)- Two Iranian nationals missing in western Afghanistan for several days are believed to have been kidnapped, Afghan officials said Saturday.

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• 17 August

  Turkey: More Time Needed for Gas Deal with Iran

  TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran and Turkey need more time to finalize a major natural gas deal, President Abdullah Gul said Saturday, playing down reports that US pressure on Turkey to abandon the project is behind the delay.

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• 17 August

  Iran Strengthens Diplomatic Stance in N. Standoff with West

  TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s just-ended visit to Turkey, a NATO ally that is also aspiring to the membership in the European Union (EU), yielded fruits in countering US efforts to set a diplomatic blockade over Tehran, analysts said.

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• 17 August

  Georgia claims loss of villages to Abkhaz forces

  While a partial pullout of Russian forces may be underway in Georgia, there was still plenty of military activity to keep observers busy. Georgia has accused the Russians of setting forest fires near Tbilisi, digging into positions near the capital, and occupying key villages and a power station.

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• 17 August

  Bush says some progress in Georgia crisis

  US President George W. Bush believes progress is being made in resolving the Georgia crisis. But, speaking at his ranch in Texas, he said that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are a part of Georgia and “there’s no room for debate on this matter.”

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• 17 August

  Iranian citizens fortunate to gaze at partial lunar eclipse

  (IRNA) – Iranian citizens were lucky to witness a partial lunar eclipse from 01:40 (marking the greatest eclipse) to about 03:15 hours local time on Sunday morning.

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