Russian media divided over Shangai summit conclusion

"The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members decided not to go for extremes when reacting to Russia's actions in the Caucasus. In a restrained manner and without recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia, they did side with their partner," the state Rossiyskaya Gazeta said.

"Russian officials assured that in closed meetings, SCO colleagues voiced full understanding of Russias position, but could not acknowledge it openly due to internal reasons," the daily wrote.

"The most important thing was that SCO confirmed Russias chief role as peacekeeper in the Caucasus," Rossiyskaya Gazeta added.

The Vremya Novostei daily was the only one upbeat, claiming that "in a practically consolidated anti-Russian stance the West took, Moscow still got support for its actions in the Caucasus from Beijing and other SCO partners."

"Though it may not have looked as convincing as the Kremlin might have liked, such is the Eastern nature of SCO diplomacy, where everything has to be read between the lines and found in significant gestures and smiles," the daily assured.

"Though this is trivial, East is East and West is West and the twain are in no hurry to meet," the daily added.
However, the outspoken Kommersant daily, which headlined the news with a flat "Partners let down", begged to disagree.

"The SCO voiced full approval of Moscow's actions, but in the final declaration it still spoke in favor of territorial integrity and against use of force. This means that in the growing standoff with the West Russia is practically alone," the daily wrote.

"There was no unequivocal condemnation of Georgia's strike on Tskhinvali, no joy on recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and one can even find hidden displeasure with Moscows actions in some formulas," Kommersant said.

Much of the careful rhetoric could be explained by the fact that "all SCO members have problematic regions, and if one country recognizes the Caucasian republics, claims to its own territory will follow," the daily explained, quoting a source in the Russian delegation. And in any case, "the Russian side was in principle ready for such a turn of events," the daily added.

Nevertheless, the lack of support prompted disappointing thoughts on just how trusty and true Russias allies are, the Izvestia daily said.

"This whole story, where the leaders united in refraining from public statements on an issue that is critically important for one of its members, shows that the SCO is indeed unlikely to become a powerful military and political alliance to rival NATO," Izvestia wrote.

"(Chinese President) Hu (Jingtao) announced that in his opinion, the SCO states are always ready to support each other in a crunch, including issues of independence and sovereignty. One could only laugh bitterly at that," the daily added.