TODAY: Georgian president urges West to intervene on potential Russia conflict; Russia sends warships into Arctic waters, swaps Tajik debt for space-tracking system, seeks delay in action against Sudanese president; Name of Russia vote. Georgia’s president has urged the West to confront Russia to prevent a potential conflict in its breakaway regions, saying that Russia’s actions are “killing international law”. The United States is “deeply troubled by Russia’s statement that its military aircraft deliberately violated Georgia’s internationally recognized borders”. In turn, Russia has announced that it will “take steps to neutralise the threat” of the US’ planned missile defense system. Russia is sending warships to patrol Arctic waters “for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union”, in a move to increase the country’s global military presence. One analyst commented that the move was “flag-waving, and that’s basically it.” Moscow vetoed Zimbabwe sanctions because “declaring UN sanctions over elections would set a precedent that Moscow has no desire to see established, given its own record in conducting elections, not to mention the record of its allies,” says a Russian journalist. It is being reported that Russia, together with China, is seeking a delay in action against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of genocide, warning that it could have an adverse impact on the peace process in the region.