Georgia/Russia News: 25 AUG 2008
NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.
NEWS
Russian parliament votes to recognize Georgia breakaway regions
The Times Online (UK), Tony Halpin, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: “Russia’s parliament voted unanimously to recognize the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway regions today in a direct challenge to the West. The votes throw down the gauntlet to the West over its support for the democratic regime of President Mikheil Saakashvili in Georgia. The final decision will rest with Mr Medvedev, who has already declared his readiness to “make the decision which unambiguously supports the will of these two Caucasus peoples”. But divisions within Europe over the best response to Russia’s first military intervention since the end of the Cold War were quickly exposed in remarks by Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister. He told France Inter radio that, despite problems in the relationship, “we are not talking about sanctions” against Russia.”
An Uncertain Death Toll In Georgia-Russia War
The Washington Post (U.S.), Tara Bahrampour, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: “On both sides it has been hard to find people with firsthand knowledge of deaths in a war that sparked the biggest crisis in Russia’s relations with Europe and the United States since the Soviet Union collapsed. What no one disputes is that villages emptied quickly. Aid groups and Georgian officials estimate that as many as 158,000 people have left their homes, including 30,000 ethnic Ossetians who went north to Russia. About 100,000 who fled South Ossetia and the Georgian city of Gori went to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, and 22,000 to other towns.”
Blasts in Georgia Hit Train, 2 People: Officials Blame Russian Weapons
The Washington Post (U.S.), Jonathan Finer, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: “A large explosion Sunday morning destroyed a train carrying oil through this town in central Georgia, engulfing mangled cars in a tower of flames. Georgian officials said they suspected Russian forces had mined the track or an adjacent military base.”
Russia invasion speeds Georgia NATO membership: U.S.
Reuters (U.S.), Melissa Akin, 23 Aug 2008
Summary: “Russia has hastened Georgia’s march toward membership in NATO by going to war with it over its breakaway province of South Ossetia, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Saturday… The 26-member alliance, which already includes the three former Soviet Baltic states, will convene in December to decide whether to grant Georgia a road map to accession, known as a Membership Action Plan.”
East-West Artery Reopens in Georgia
The Moscow Times (RUS), Nikolaus von Twickel, 24 Aug 2008
Summary: Traffic gradually began to trickle along Georgia’s main east-west highway over the weekend, after the departure of Russian troops who had been barring traffic on the road and, effectively, cutting the country in half.
Ukraine Shines Its Weapons on Russia
Kommersant (RUS), Unattributed, 24 Aug 2008
Summary: Ukraine celebrated its 17th Independence Day yesterday. For the first time in seven years, military hardware rattled down Kreshchatik, Kiev’s main street. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in his holiday address to the country accused Russia of interfering in his country’s internal affairs and promised to raise the defense budget. But only NATO membership can save the country from the Russian military threat, he said.
EU Leaders to Discuss Georgia As Russia Flouts West
The Wall Street Journal (U.S.), Leila Abboud and Gregory L. White, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: “France called a summit of European Union leaders for next week to discuss the conflict in Georgia, reflecting growing frustration among Western leaders as Russia defies calls to withdraw all its troops from Georgian territory… So far, the Kremlin has seemed largely impervious to political pressure from the West, but U.S. and European leaders are growing increasingly concerned that Moscow’s ultimate aim is to cripple Georgia’s economy and the pro-Western government of Mikheil Saakashvili.”
Western leaders press Moscow on withdrawal
Financial Times, Charles Clover, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: “Russian forces also continued to patrol the port city of Poti in spite of western criticism that the Russian military presence there violates a ceasefire agreement signed last week by the two sides. Russia is facing mounting international pressure as a result of the worsening humanitarian situation in Georgia, where the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates 15,000 people are in need of assistance.”
A Role for Merkel as a Bridge to Russia
The New York Times (U.S.), Judy Dempsey, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: German Chancellor, Angela Merkel has “separated herself from Russia on several major foreign policy issues…This tougher stance by Berlin means two things: first, that Russia can no longer expect automatic sympathy from the German chancellor. And second, by adopting a more critical stance toward Russia, and by implication reassuring the countries of Eastern Europe, Germany is now in a stronger position to play a bigger role in shaping the European Union’s long-term relationship with Russia and the Caucasus.”
COMMENTARY
Georgia and The Stakes For Ukraine
The Washington Post (U.S.), Victor Yushchenko, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: “Ukraine has become a hostage in the war waged by Russia. This has prompted Ukrainian authorities and all of our country’s people, including those living in the Crimea, to ponder the dangers emanating from the fact that the Russian Black Sea fleet is based on our territory. The tragic events in Georgia also exposed the lack of effective preventive mechanisms by the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other international organizations… Ukraine favors a wider international representation in the peacekeeping force in the conflict area. A new multilateral format mandated by the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is the only way to guarantee security in the conflict zone.”
ZEIT ONLINE (Germany), Joschka Fischer, 25 Aug 2008-08-25
Summary: In his weekly column Joschka Fischer argues that the West is sliding into a confrontation with Russia because of the Caucasus-conflict, that will prove to be yet another strategic cul-de-sac for both. However, “neither the West nor Russia can gain anything from this. Instead common interests demand for a new era of cooperation.” The former foreign minister states that “sure enough a return to Russian imperialistic-style politics towards its neighbors is not acceptable”, but “the West’s answer to this must not be shortsighted prestige-politics to conceal the its own weakness.”
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Daniel Brössler, 25 Aug 2008
Summary: Daniel Brössler argues that although Germany is an essential and strong part of the West, it entertains a special relationship with Russia. Based on this, the Russian leadership has traditionally hoped for Berlin’s understanding and even sympathy. This has changed. The war in Georgia marks a “caesura”, that calls into question all of Germany’s policies towards Russia. Brössler calls for a realistic assessment of the situation. “What is needed”, he argues “is an unromantic and open working relationship with Russia.”
Russian Profile (RUS), Andreas Umland, 21 Aug 2008
Summary: The need to protect its citizens residing abroad has been one of the chief reasons Russia cited for its involvement in the South Ossetian debacle. However, the justification of protecting people involved in creating an independent state within another country’s internationally accepted borders has yet to have been cited by any country in the world. As the “Russia for Russians” slogan becomes ever more popular in the country, fewer Russians are likely to be able to tell ethnic Ossetians and ethnic Georgians apart.
POLICY INSTITUTE ANALYSIS
Can the EU win the peace in Georgia?
European Council on Foreign Relations, Nicu Popescu, Mark Leonard and Andrew Wilson, Aug 2008
Summary: “The EU has established itself as the main diplomatic broker in the conflict between Russia and Georgia. It should use this position to help forge a positive peace from a war which threatens the foundations of the European security order. Russia has used its conflict with Georgia to display its military power, reclaim a sphere of influence and frighten its neighbors. Rather than looking for punitive measures, the EU should respond to Russia’s demonstration of force with much stronger engagement for democracy, prosperity and security in the broader region - keeping tough measures towards Moscow on the table if Russia resists.”
Russia vs Georgia: The Fallout
International Crisis Group (ICG), Europe Report N°195, 22 Aug 2008
Summary: The Russia-Georgia conflict has transformed the contemporary geopolitical world, with large consequences for peace and security in Europe and beyond. ICG Report analyses the ramifications of the war and proposes policy recommendations individually for the Russian and Georgian Governments and the De Facto South Ossetian and Abkhazian Authorities, for the Member States of the UN Security Council, for the European Union and its Member States and for NATO and its Member States.