Australia refused to Georgia in military aid

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in a broadcast of the British TV channel Sky News, that his country responded negatively to Tbilisi's request to provide military assistance to Georgia.

"Georgia has appealed to a number of countries to consider the possibility of military aid. Australia officially decided that it is not interested in this kind of cooperation ", - said the head of the Australian foreign minister.

However, the Australian prime minister said that financial assistance to Georgia can count.

Recall that on the eve of Georgia appealed to NATO to request military assistance. In particular, the Georgian authorities have asked the North Atlantic alliance to replace its radar system, which was destroyed by Russia. The representative of Georgia to NATO Revaz Beshidze declined to provide details on the military support of the alliance, however, he said he expects the response "as soon as possible».

At the same time, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said that the conflict in South Ossetia will not affect Georgia's membership in NATO. "Georgia - a respected partner and friend, once it enters into NATO," - he said. NATO ambassadors meeting with the participation of Georgia, held in Brussels yesterday.

On the eve of 12 August, Russia officially announced the end of the operation to force Georgia to peace. Later, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the six principles for resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Among them - an international debate on the international status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and ways to ensure their lasting security.

In addition, among developed principles - the definitive cessation of all hostilities, non-use of force, free access to humanitarian aid.

Also, Georgian armed forces must return to their places of permanent deployment, and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - to the line preceding the start of hostilities. At the same time before the establishment of the international mechanism, Russian peacekeeping forces will take additional security measures.

That night it was reported that Saakashvili agreed with the basic principles of the document on ceasefire. According to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at the request of the Georgian side the document was amended several times, twice that coordinated with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Thus, the document was withdrawn from the issue of the status of South Ossetia.

The French president said that the document provides an immediate ceasefire by the parties, the creation of a humanitarian corridor, diversion of military units of Georgia and Russia to their former positions. Sarkozy said that the document will be submitted on August 13 to discuss foreign ministers of the EU countries, the results of which will be developed by a document having legal force and are binding.

For his part, the President of Georgia noted that he agrees with the position of France, for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops to their previous positions. "With regard to the internationalization of the negotiating process, the issue of territorial integrity of Georgia and the return of refugees, in this regard, the Georgian side will not make concessions," - Saakashvili said.