Georgia/Russia News: 26 AUG 2008
Note: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.
NEWS
Russia Recognizes Breakaway Georgian Regions
Washington Post (U.S), Philip P. Pan and Jonathan Finer, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: President Dmitry Medvedev recognized the independence of two breakaway regions of Georgia on Tuesday and called on other nations to do the same, escalating what has become one of the most serious conflicts between Russia and the United States since the end of the Cold War. Georgian officials characterized Medvedev’s action as a de facto annexation of the two Russian-allied provinces, while the U.S. and the country’s Western allies were quick to condemn it.
Georgia rebels celebrate Kremlin recognition
Reuters, Indira Bartsits, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: “Residents in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia fired into the air, opened bottles of champagne and wept on Tuesday after Russia recognized it and a second breakaway region as independent.”
Komersant (RUS), Mikhail Zygar, 22 Aug 2008
Summary: Yesterday Russia demonstrated that it is not going to compromise in its current confrontation with the West. NATO got a notification from the Russian Defense Ministry about complete termination of military cooperation with the alliance, and Russian military detained France’s Ambassador to Georgia at the entrance to Gori. Finally, the congresses of the Abkhaz and Ossetian people called on Russia to recognize the breakaway republics’ independence, and Russian Foreign Minister hinted that this appeal has been taken into account in Moscow. On Monday both chambers of the Russian parliament may take corresponding decisions.
E.U. Treads Gingerly in Georgia Crisis
New York Times (U.S.), Steven Erlanger, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: “Europeans agree that Russia overreacted to Georgia’s assault on South Ossetia and that Russia has not complied with the cease-fire agreement that ended the conflict. But Europeans disagree on what to do about it, with little obvious leverage on Russia, especially on the ground in the Caucasus. By contrast, the countries of Central Europe, like Poland, supported by the Nordic countries, the Netherlands and Britain, want a more confrontational stance toward Russia, to show Moscow that aggression has costs. But “old Europe” wants to help ease Russia out of its predicament and not create a long-term animosity with a country that has a strong energy, trade and cultural relationship with Europe.”
Cheney To Visit Georgia Next Week
Washington Post (U.S.), Dan Eggan, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: “Vice President Cheney will travel next week to war-ravaged Georgia as part of a swing through several former Soviet republics, making him the highest-level U.S. emissary to visit the country since hostilities between Russia and Georgia broke out this month, officials said yesterday.”
Putin Eyes Retreat On WTO Accords
The Moscow Times (RUS), 26 Aug 2008
Summary: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia should abandon some of the commitments it made during World Trade Organization accession talks. Putin’s announcement is a first sign that an unraveling war of words between Russia and the West is likely to go beyond empty threats.
Resolution, Oil Prices Push Markets Lower
The Moscow Times (RUS), William Mauldin, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: Russian stocks fell to their lowest since 2006 on concerns that the recognition of two breakaway Georgian regions will renew tensions in the area, while lower oil prices may curb the earnings of energy companies.
Russia Not to Blame for Worsening of Relations with NATO - Medvedev
Focus (BUL), 26 Aug 2008
Summary: NATO is more than Russia interested in the development of the bilateral cooperation, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated on Monday.
New Statesman (UK), Matt Siegel, 21 Aug 2008
Summary: As Russian forces begin to withdraw, we are learning more about the events of the short but brutal war over South Ossetia. Matt Siegel reports from Tskhinvali and Gori, while local people give eyewitness accounts of the devastation.
COMMENTARY
Russia warms to the West no more
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: For too long German policy makers have engaged in wishful thinking about the nature of the new Russia. The time of self-deceipt is now over. There is no way to avoid a simple conclusion: Russia’s “souvereign democracy” respects neither the sovereignty of its citizens nor of its neighbors. The erection of a “new sphere of influence” is simply unacceptable. With the new Russia, Germany will need to have a relationship a la carte rather than a strategic partnership.
Newsweek (US), Clifford G. Gaddy, 23 Aug 2008
Summary: “In search of a lever, many politicians, from both the left and the right, turn to economics, suggesting that the West can make Russia pay by measures such as blocking its accession to the World Trade Organization, expelling it from the G8 and restricting its investment and trade flows with the West. This is a mistaken approach. Using economics as a weapon against Russia poses risks to the global economic system itself.”
Berliner Zeitung (Germany), Frank Herold, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: Frank Herold writes that “Russia is dictating the conditions for peace in Georgia. That is what victorious powers have done throughout history. But,” Herold goes on to argue, “the West should react calmly, as the decision of the Russian parliament to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia doesn’t change anything. Russia had actually long before recognized the separatist movements in Georgia.”
POLICY INSTITUTE ANALYSIS
Council on Foreign Relations (U.S.), Greg Bruno, 26 Aug2008
Summary: “Reverberations from Russia’s conflict with Georgia extend in many directions, highlighting the extent of Russian power in its own region and beyond. Western states, for their part, have signaled potential trade moves against Russia and the end to “business as usual.” But one potential casualty that causes special worry for some analysts is the suspension of cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation and other arms control efforts.”