Round-Up Of Russian Newspaper Reaction

MOSCOW, Russia, August 27, 2008 -- Russia's decision Tuesday to recognize the Georgian separatist provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states has provoked widespread criticism from the West.

The United States has threatened to use its veto on the United Nations Security Council to stop any attempt to change the legal status of the breakaways. Russian President Dmitri Medvedev fought back, saying, "We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a Cold War."

Russia's newspapers have rallied in defense of the president. Here are some excerpts.

A business orientated newspaper.

Headline:"World Wave (a wordplay in Russian on 'world war'):The President is ready for a confrontation with the West."

"Yesterday's announcement by President Medvedev of recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has been criticized by the West, while Great Britain has called for the creation of an international anti-Russian coalition. Some analysts in European diplomatic circles have compared this event with September 11, 2001, declaring that international politics will never be the same."

An independent daily broadsheet.

Headline: "This Was No Easy Choice"

"Yesterday Dmitri Medvedev signed a decree recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian president gave a special address on national television and called on other countries to follow Russia.

He accused the Georgian leadership of ignoring the U.N. Charter, international agreements and even good sense. Medvedev also said that Russia had asked Georgia to return to the negotiating table time and time again. Russia did not go back on its words, even after the declaration of independence by Kosovo. However, Georgia did not respond to our proposals to draw up an agreement over South Ossetia and Abkhazia."