GEORGIA’S UNRECOGNIZED REPUBLICS SEEK ‘DECISIVE’ ACTION FROM RUSSIA

Moskovskiy Komsomolets, Moscow
20 Mar 07

Representatives of the unrecognized CIS republics have become regular
visitors to Moscow recently. At present three ministers of foreign
affairs (from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the Dniester region) and
South Ossetia’s leader Eduard Kokoiti are in the capital. All of them
have one headache: Georgia is joining NATO…

At a meeting the ministers clarified details of a "rendezvous" between
the presidents of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the Dniester region
which will take place in Sokhumi at the beginning of April. According
to Sergey Shamba, head of Abkhazia’s Foreign Ministry, the main
question which will be discussed there is the potential for Russia
to recognize the republics.

"Russia now has a unique and perhaps final chance to preserve
its influence in the South Caucasus – by recognizing Abkhazia
and South Ossetia," Shamba said in an interview with Moskovskiy
Komsomolets. "Moscow should use the Kosovo precedent and take a
decisive step now because the Kosovo example will lose its relevance
later. Georgia and Azerbaijan will become members of NATO, after this
Armenia will quite simply be forced to follow their example. Russia’s
influence in the region will come to nothing. Abkhazia and South
Ossetia are the only buffer remaining between Russia and NATO. These
countries are still prepared to defend Russian interests. But
politicians from a younger generation could soon come to power there
who, unlike us, have not lived through a war. And we do not know how
they will behave when they are surrounded by NATO countries."

"The international community’s reaction to Russia recognizing Abkhazia
will of course be negative. But any decisive Russian action causes
discontent in the West. If Russia does not now recognize Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, it will mean that politicians in Moscow do not
consider the South Caucasus to be a zone of Russian interest. It is
now or never: Either recognize the unrecognized, or lose influence
in the region completely…

South Ossetia’s President Eduard Kokoiti commented on the situation
specially for Moskovskiy Komsomolets: "It is no news to us that Georgia
is joining NATO. We have known about this for a long time and have
prepared ourselves for it. The United States is trying to inflame
the situation in the region with its own shortsighted actions. It
is not the United States or NATO but Russia which has always been
the guarantor of stability and order in the South Caucasus. We have
therefore made our choice: To try to gain independence, and we do not
intend to ask for the United States’ opinion on this matter. It is time
for Russia to take a principled stand, enough of making concessions."