Mikhail Saakashvili, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008

Almost everybody was waiting for Friday’s joint press conference with the U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and the Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili — literally. With Georgian forces having been defeated by the Russian military in South Ossetia and parts of Georgia proper now under Moscow’s control, over a hundred journalists turned up at the new presidential palace currently under construction in Tbilisi.

Condoleezza Rice had brought with her a six-point ceasefire agreement for Saakashvili to sign, and neither seemed to be too happy with it. Rice was stern-faced and Saakashvili at times exasperated and flustered. Neither, perhaps, was as exhausted as the media pack which had to wait three hours for the scheduled press conference to begin in the scorching sun. Still, the presidential staff did supply free chilled Georgian mineral water after the first hour of waiting.

And I suppose when Russian troops are literally less than forty minutes away from your capital, it’s no wonder that proceedings were so delayed. Unfortunately, however, one film crew from the BBC couldn’t wait any longer and nor could journalists from some other significant international publications. As for myself, I have to admit, I was as interested in witnessing the Georgian president speak in person.

In a joint news conference with Ms Rice following nearly five hours of talks, Mr Saakashvili said he would never accept any part of his country being occupied.

He gave an emotional address, referring to Russia as “cold-blooded killers” and “barbarians”, and he said that Georgia was now “looking evil directly in the eye”.

But Mr Saakashvili also criticised the West for failing to react strongly enough to previous Russian military moves and for not granting his country Nato membership earlier this year.

Ms Rice said that Russia had to accept Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and demanded a withdrawal of all Russia military from Georgia “at once”.

But as the pair spoke, there were reports of Russian anti-personnel carriers moving closer towards the Georgian capital, setting up a new checkpoint about 35km (22 miles) outside Tbilisi.

The full post is available on The Caucasian Knot.