Georgia/Russia news: 28 Aug 2008
NOTE: This is an informational compilation. GMF does not endorse, either explicitly or implicitly, the content contained herein.
NEWS
Russia’s Warships Arrived in Abkhazia
Kommersant (RUS), 27 Aug 2008
Summary: The warships of Russia arrived in Abkhazia’s Sukhumi port of the Black Sea, Interfax reported. This first official friendly visit of warships to Abkhazia is aimed at easing concerns triggered by strengthening of NATO group of warships in the Black Sea.
Russia’s Asia allies fail to back Georgia action
Reuters, Denis Dyomkin, 28 Aug 2008
Summary: “Moscow appeared diplomatically isolated when it recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia on Tuesday. Medvedev suffered a new diplomatic setback when leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), who gathered for a summit in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, failed to explicitly back his Caucasus policy.”
Russia Plans To Cut Imports Of U.S. Meat
Wall Street Journal (U.S.), Lauren Etter and Daria Solovieva, 28 Aug 2008
Summary: “Amid fraying trade relations between Moscow and Washington, Russia said it would slash U.S. import quotas for chicken and pork, both big export products to the region from the U.S. After U.S. officials said Russia’s war with Georgia had cast doubt on Russia’s bid to enter the World Trade Organization, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Monday called for pulling out of trade deals that Russia had signed when it was expecting quick admission into the trade body.”
Russia long-range missile test a success
Reuters, Chris Baldwin, 28 Aug 2008
Summary: “Russia successfully tested a long-range Topol missile designed to avoid detection by anti-missile defence systems from its Plesetsk launch site. “The launch was specially tasked to test the missile’s capability to avoid ground-based detection systems,” said Colonel Alexander Vovk of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces.”
Russland eint die NATO / Russia unifies NATO
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany), Nikolas Busse, 27 August 2008
Summary: The West’s response to Russian behavior in Georgia is becoming more consolidated. Quoting the new U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, the article illustrates that western ambivalence towards Russia in the name of a larger strategic interest would be a dangerous path to tread. The situation is reminiscent of the Cold War when Russia unified NATO members.
Georgia Hesitates to Break off Relations with Russia
Kommersant (RUS), Vladimir Solovyov and Georgy Dvali, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: Despite the military conflict with Russia and the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the Georgian government has not dared to undertake extreme measures – breaking off diplomatic relations with Moscow. Tbilisi says it will soon make up its mind. Today it plans to officially register the Russian troops’ occupation of several Georgian territories.
EU officials express surprise over Russia sanctions
The Times (UK), Michael Evans, 28 Aug 2008
Summary: “The European Union is considering sanctions against Russia as punishment for refusing to withdraw its troops from Georgia and for recognizing the two breakaway enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. However, although the EU under the presidency of France wants to take a tough position against Russia’s continuing failure to meet the terms of the six-point peace plan on Georgia, brokered by President Sarkozy, the issue of sanctions is likely to provoke divisions in Europe.”
Russia Adopts Blustery Tone Set by Envoy
New York Times (U.S.), Clifford J. Levy, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “Here is one measure of the aggressive shift in Russian foreign policy in recent weeks: Dmitri O. Rogozin, Russia’s representative to NATO, a finger-wagging nationalist who hung a poster of Stalin in his new ambassadorial office, is not sounding so extreme any more. Now the rising stature of Mr. Rogozin, who called NATO criticism of Russia’s military action “bigoted and indecent,” underscores Russia’s new tone — one adopted by both Mr. Putin, now prime minister, and President Dmitri A. Medvedev.”
COMMENTARY
Moscow’s plan is to redraw the map of Europe
Financial Times (UK), Mikheil Saakashvili, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “Any doubts about why Russia invaded Georgia have now been erased. By illegally recognizing the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, made clear that Moscow’s goal is to redraw the map of Europe using force. This war was never about South Ossetia or Georgia. Moscow is using its invasion, prepared over years, to rebuild its empire, seize greater control of Europe’s energy supplies and punish those who believed democracy could flourish on its borders.”
Gespräch mit Steinmeier: “Russland überzieht”
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Daniel Brössler, 28 Aug 2008
Summary: “In this interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Foreign minister Steinmeier criticizes Moscow for its actions in the Caucasus conflict – but, at the same time warns of a renaissance of outdated hostilities.”
In Georgia, no bullets and no peace
International Herald Tribune (U.S.), Opinion, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “While many Russians are cheering [Putin] now, we doubt that they will be eager to return to the grim days of Soviet isolation. For all its oil wealth, Russia is still a poorly developed, corrupt and fragile state. It is not in its long-term economic and security interest to divorce from the international mainstream.”
All Quiet on the Southern Front
Russia Profile (RUS), Sergey Markedonov, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: Despite Having Been Affected by the Russo-Georgian Squabble, Both Armenia and Azerbaijan Cautiously Abstain From Taking Sides.
Russia Profile (RUS), Dimitry Babich, 26 Aug 2008
Summary: The Russian leadership dramatically raised the stakes in its standoff with Georgia and Tbilisi’s sympathizers in the West. On Tuesday, Russia’s president signed a decree on the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the two separatist regions whose conflicts with the authorities in Tbilisi triggered three wars inside Georgia during the last 18 years. Since Dmitry Medvedev was expected to use the potential declaration as a bargaining tool in the future, many are now perplexed by his speedy decision.
POLICY INSTITUTE ANALYSIS
One Way to Save the Relationship
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (U.S.), Rose Gottemoeller, 27 Aug 2008
Summary: “As we sort out the implications of this disaster, safe havens for cooperation still remain. The entire nuclear agenda is in this category, whether we are talking about a potential nuclear weapons program in Iran, the future of nuclear energy, the threat of nuclear terrorism around the world or the necessity of achieving further nuclear reductions in the United States and Russia.”