TODAY: Russia-US relations will not derailed by Georgia events says Washington; Lavrov suggests humanitarian motives for action in Georgia; Eastern Partnership deal made; Lebedev’s Novaya Gazeta pay suspension scrutinized; Amnesty disappointed with human rights in Medvedev’s first year

Hillary Clinton reportedly has no interest in dwelling upon the Georgia issue at her meeting with Sergei Lavrov, saying, ‘we want to normalize the relationship and raise it to a new level’.  President Obama is apparently ‘hopeful’ about improved relations.  Russian State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov has confirmed that Russia will take part in a session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, saying ‘we want to continue the dialogue’.  Sergei Lavrov has defended Russia’s actions in Georgia, claiming, ‘we intervened . . . not to win geopolitical scores, but to save human lives‘.  The Other Russia examines the murky details of the failed ‘coup’ in Georgia.  President Medvedev has appealed to Georgian World War Two veterans that a ‘common historical heritage’ could help foster better relations between the two countries.