Georgia/Russia news: 27 AUG 2008
NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.
NEWS
Russia Says 2 Regions in Georgia Are Independent
Washington Post (U.S.), Philip P. Pan and Jonathan Finer, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “Russia recognized the independence of two breakaway provinces of Georgia over the strong objections of the United States and much of Europe on Tuesday, escalating tensions in the region as Russian troops dug in on Georgian soil and U.S. warships prepared to deliver humanitarian aid to an occupied port city. The reaction in the West was swift and stern.”
US ships bring Georgia aid, avoid Russian-held port
Reuters, Niko Mchedlishvili, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “A U.S. Coast Guard ship carrying aid for victims of Georgia’s brief war with Russia arrived on the country’s Black Sea coast on Wednesday, but backed down from docking in a Russian-patrolled port.”
Kommersant (RUS), Mikhail Zygar, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: Yesterday Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev announced recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This step was condemned by all western states, and Great Britain even urged forming an international anti-Russian coalition. Several Kommersant interlocutors with Europe’s diplomatic sources compared the incident with 9/11 stating that the world politics will never be the same again.
Stocks Tumble in Moscow After Russia Recognizes Separatist Regions in Georgia
New York Times (U.S.), Andrew E. Kramer, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: “The effects of Russia’s first foreign war as a capitalist country rippled Tuesday through the Moscow stock markets, which dipped to their lowest level since 2006. The loss of billions of dollars in paper value is confronting the Kremlin with a dimension to its geopolitical posturing that never existed during the cold war, even as Russia seemed to be consolidating its gains after the Georgia conflict.”
UK warns Russia against starting new Cold War
Financial Times (UK), James Blitz, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: David Miliband, Britain’s foreign secretary, “said that this week’s recognition of Abkhazia and south Ossetia by Moscow marks a “moment of real significance” in post war-European history, creating real challenges for both Russia and the west. Mr Miliband balanced his argument by saying that, in its response to Russia over the next few weeks, the west must not seek to isolate Moscow, saying such a move would be counterproductive. ”Isolation is not feasible. Russia is too enmeshed in the world economy.”
SPIEGEL ONLINE (Germany), 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “A drastic warning by the German foreign minister: Russia’s battle against Georgia and its recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia could unhinge Europe’s entire security architecture – ‘ with unforeseeable consequences. Kremlin leader Medwedjew defends his actions.”
Medvedev Heads East Looking for Support
The Moscow Times (RUS), Anna Smolchenko, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: Russia will be looking for unambiguous support from Asian nations, including China, in its standoff with the West over South Ossetia and Abkhazia when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meets Thursday in Dushanbe.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany), Siegfried Thielbeer, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “Federal chancellor Merkel during a state visit to Estonia criticized the Russian parliament’s and president’s decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as violating international law.”
Russian General Slams U.S. Black Sea Presence
The St. Petersburg Times (RUS), David Rising, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: A Russian general suggested that U.S. ships in the Black Sea loaded with humanitarian aid would worsen tensions already driven to a post-Cold War high by a short but intense war between Russia and Georgia. The U.S. Navy destroyer U.S.S. McFaul reached Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi on Sunday, bringing baby food, bottled water and a message of support for an embattled ally.
COMMENTARY
“Die romantische Phase ist vorbei”/ The romance is over
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Interview with Alexander Rahr, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: Moscow has recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian expert Alexander Rahr compares the current situation with the Cuban crisis and expects a clear response from the West. States that recognize the independence of the breakaway enclaves must be prepared for economic sanctions or an interruption in diplomatic relations with the West.
Shevardnadze speaks on the Georgia crisis: ‘This War Could Have Been Avoided’
Spiegel Online, An interview with Eduard Shevardnadze, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: “We have always had a special relationship as neighbors and that our governments now have a responsibility to restore what was good between Russia and Georgia. Needless to say, Georgia’s wanting to join NATO isn’t something Russia finds pleasing. But the West has the right to support Georgia if it wants to. And every country can align itself as it sees fit. In the end, what can Russia do to keep this from happening? Georgia must join NATO.”
The Novayagazeta (RUS), Pavel Voshanov, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: Not long ago it seemed that the cold war was over and the great powers were ready to get united for finding solutions to numerous and sharp humanitarian issues of the mankind. Alas, nothing of that happened. Recently, people in the West and in the East have come to a feeling that the world is divided again on “friends” and “enemies” and the guns are ready to speak instead of diplomats at any moment.
In der Sackgasse / In the cul-de-sac
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Sonja Zekri, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: Russia’s president Dimitrij Medwedjew is leading his country into a self-destructive political isolation. It is unclear how Moscow and the West intend to find a way out of this gravest crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union…Moscow wants to impose its rules on the world community, but despite its oil and gas, it won’t succeed in doing so. Instead, it has maneuvered itself into a cul-de-sac where compromising appears like losing. Moscow alone can find a way out of this situation.”
Analysis: Nato agreements are at risk
Times Online (UK), Michael Evans, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: Nato commanders are waiting anxiously to see if Russia intends to scrap its offer to allow civilian supply convoys to use Russian land routes into Afghanistan. This is far from the only element of Nato/Russian military co-operation now at risk, however, because of the row over Georgia. Several areas of joint activity and assistance include:” training and exercises, counter-narcotics training, search and rescue cooperation, and crisis management exercises.
POLICY INSTITUTE ANALYSIS
Council on Foreign Relations (U.S.), Richard Haas, 01 Sep 2008 (for Newsweek)
Summary: “Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s decision to reassert his government’s authority in South Ossetia looks rash: he underestimated the Russian response, and he overestimated what the United States and others would do on his behalf. Both Senators McCain and Obama have been robust in their denunciations of Russian actions. But the fact is that there is little the United States can do to help Georgia. The real question is how the next president will deal with Russia come January.”