U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell held phone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on August 17 in order to discuss the situation in Georgia?s breakaway South Ossetia.
?We?re both [the United States, Russia], as you know, working with the parties to promote dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the issue, issues in South Ossetia,? Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman of the Department of State said at a news briefing in Washington on August 17.