A HOT CAUCASIAN CUISINE
by Leonid Timofeev
Translated by Pavel Pushkin
Source: Tribuna, No. 31, August 11, 2006, p. 2
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 14, 2006 Monday
COLONEL GENERAL LEONID IVASHOV: AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF INSTABILITY
SAAKASHVILI HOPES TO SOLVE INTERNAL PROBLEMS OF GEORGIA; Tbilisi
lacks only a mere trifle for forcefully solving the problems with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is getting rid of the collective
peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone.
Tbilisi lacks only a mere trifle for forcefully solving the problems
with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which is getting rid of the collective
peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone. Russian posts are a special
obstacle.
The technology is simple. Recently, Georgian Foreign Ministry accused
Russia of shooting at Georgian posts in the Kodori Gorge. Information
about helicopters without identifying signs was launched afterwards.
Meanwhile, the situation in the gorge is growing more alarming.
According to the Abkhaz party, the so-called police operation is
failing and resistance of the rebels commanded by Emzar Kvitsiani
is growing stronger. The fate of the local population is a special
concern because it is threatened with humanitarian catastrophe.
Expert opinion
Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, Vice President of the Academy
of Geopolitical Problems: – It is necessary to speak about the
Georgian-Abkhaz conflict today in connection to what is happening
in the Middle East and in the world in general. Characteristically,
the Middle Eastern conflict was "launched" after a meeting of Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with George Bush. Saakashvili also visited
Washington on the eve of the G8 summit. He has evidently received
instructions and is kindling up a conflict in the Caucasus. What the
Georgian authorities are doing now is an obvious provoking of a large
conflict into which Russia will be involved at least partially.
Implementation of this plan will enable the Georgian authorities to
demand intervention international forces, most likely, Americans,
Turks and other NATO countries. The US is not interested in integrity
of Georgia and it needs to stir up the Caucasus. Americans have
stirred up the Middle East and now they need to extend the "arch of
instability" in the western and in the eastern directions. We see
what is happening in Ukraine. In the opposite direction, we see Iran,
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Through Saakashvili Washington is fulfilling a task of formation of
instability zones in the world. The Georgian leader hopes that against
the background of instability it is possible to solve all internal
problems and to lay the blame for them on Russia, Abkhazia and South
Ossetia and to strengthen his position in Georgia through this.
It is possible to stop aggravation of conflicts in reality only
by decisive political and probably economic actions. Where it is
necessary, in case of military provocations, it is necessary to stop
this by decisive actions of military nature. Russia should return
everything to the international law norms and demand stringent
observance of the agreements of 1994 from Georgia. It is necessary
to demand respectful attitude towards our peacekeeping contingent
and to reinforce it.