LAVROV RULES OUT GEORGIAN SCENARIO IN GARABAGH
AzerNews Weekly
Sept 3 2008
Azerbaijan
Russia`s recognition, early last week, of the independence of Georgia`s
rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has turned up regional
pressures due to the potential consequences of regional independence
movements flaring elsewhere within former Soviet republics. The
concerns are valid, given that Moscow`s actions evidently serves to
prop up aggressive separatism and further the attempts to forcefully
redraw the borders of states, not only in the ex-Soviet territories
but throughout the world.
Western observers, who harshly criticized Russia`s decision, say the
encroachment on Georgia`s territorial integrity may signal a dangerous
scenario for other countries that include separatist regions.
The issue came to the fore during British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband`s visit to Ukraine last week. Miliband stressed the need
for rallying a broad international coalition against Moscow, warning
that, otherwise, Russia would eventually seek full control over other
conflict zones within the former USSR. Miliband said, after meeting
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogryzko, that the two countries
would be at the forefront of such a coalition, which will support
Georgia`s territorial integrity and counter Russia`s aggressive
actions. The foreign secretary said the outbreak of a fresh Cold War
does not benefit anyone, and Russia should alter its policy if it
aspires to gain international respect and influence.
"The former Soviet empire should be left behind and negotiated
solutions found to the conflicts in post-Soviet territories, including
those over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh [between Azerbaijan and Armenia]
and Dnestr in Moldova," Miliband said.
Commenting on the statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
tried to ease his British counterpart`s concerns. He said the situation
in Abkhazia and South Ossetia was the result of the Georgian leaders`
unwise policy, while the situation with the Garabagh and Dnestr
disputes was completely different.
"The Dnestr and Garabagh conflicts will not unfold in a scenario
applied in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as it is not [Georgian
President] Mikheil Saakashvili who is holding talks on settling
them. In Moldova and Azerbaijan, there are no leaders who have lost
their minds like Saakashvili and are seeking to resolve conflicts
by force, while destroying their countries. That`s exactly what the
Georgian leadership did in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Lavrov said.
It appears that Russia is trying to assure Azerbaijan and Moldova,
which have been fighting aggressive separatism along with Georgia,
that it has no intention to encroach on their territorial integrity and
recognize the independence of Upper Garabagh and Dnestr. It is evident,
however, that the Russian foreign minister`s statement stems not from
efforts to diminish these concerns, but from the "breakup and rule"
policy inherent to empires. In other words, Moscow is attempting
to distance Azerbaijan and Moldova from Georgia and to counter these
countries` joint steps within the regional group, GUAM and, as a whole,
the international arena.
In reality, Russia`s plans to split up Georgia are likely to take a
toll on other countries suffering from separatist threats. It is not
by mere chance that President Medvedev`s decision to recognize Abkhazia
and South Ossetia as independent states has been praised by separatists
in Upper Garabagh, an Azeri region under Armenian occupation.
"This decision is in full compliance with the principles of
international law on self-determination of nations," the separatist
regime claimed in a statement. "We hope that forces interested in
restoring peace in the region will draw a conclusion from the latest
developments in the South Caucasus and take practical steps at finding
a solution to conflicts strictly by peaceful means."
Meanwhile, a group of Armenian pro-government and non-governmental
organizations demanded that their government recognize the
"independence" of Upper Garabagh.
The appeal branded Georgia`s assault on the pro-Russian region of
South Ossetia earlier this month as "a military aggression." Based
upon that, the Armenian groups maintain that there are no prospects
for a negotiated resolution of "frozen" conflicts in the South
Caucasus region. They alleged that Tbilisi and Baku, by intentionally
prolonging the settlement process, are taking advantage of it to
purchase armaments and strengthen their armies.
Georgia launched large-scale military operations on August 8 in South
Ossetia to restore its territorial integrity. Moscow retaliated by
sending troops to the region, striking at Georgian armed forces with
overwhelming force. Georgian forces had gained control over the capital
of the breakaway province, Tskhinvali, but had to retreat a day later
after a Russian attack. An EU-brokered ceasefire was, subsequently,
reached on August 17 to end the brief war. It envisions the return
of both countries` troops to the positions they held prior to the
outbreak of hostilities. Russia pulled most of its troops from Georgia
on August 22 but continued to build up its forces in and around the
two separatist regions after withdrawing from deep inside Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
