Role Reinforced

While the G8 summit in St Petersburg must be considered a success - in terms of raising Russia's profile globally, if not in terms of progressing international consensus - an informal summit of CIS leaders on July 21-22 highlighted widening rifts between Russia and its Western-leaning former satellites. Reflecting escalating tensions over the Russian military presence in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili cancelled his trip to the summit at the last minute. The Georgian parliament has angered Moscow by demanding it withdraw its peacekeepers, whom Russia has vowed to defend 'with every means' should fighting

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