Posted on 10/18/2006, 8:03:00 PM by M. Espinola
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia after a war in 1992-93, but so far no nation has recognised it. Georgia, entangled in a row with Russia, accuses Moscow of backing Abkhaz separatists.
The parliament of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia asked Russia on Wednesday to recognise its independence and openly adopt the role of the Black Sea province's patron.
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia after a war in 1992-93, but so far no nation has recognised it. Georgia, entangled in a row with Russia, accuses Moscow of backing Abkhaz separatists.
"The People's Assembly of the Republic of Abkhazia has decided to ask the Russian president and parliament to recognise Abkhazia's independence and establish relations of association between Russia and Abkhazia," the parliament said in a petition.
Moscow, irked by Georgia's pro-Western course and enraged by the brief detention of four Russian officers there last month, has slapped sanctions on Tbilisi, including a halt in transport links and pressure on Georgian businesses in Russia.
Sanctions
Accusations that the Caucasus state was planning to seize back Abkhazia by force were among official explanations given by Russian officials for the sanctions.
"Russia is the very country that can provide Abkhazia's security and safeguard its future," the RIA news agency quoted Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh as saying.
Moscow has never officially suggested it could recognise the independence of Abkhazia, where the majority of the population carry Russian passports.
But Russian officials have said that if the Serbian province of Kosovo is given independence, similar requests from Abkhazia, another breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia and Moldova's separatist Transdniestria province could gain more legitimacy.
Developing diplomatic relations
Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin said the history of "frozen conflicts" on the territory of the former Soviet Union was no different from that of Kosovo, for which Western powers are backing independence.
On Wednesday, several high-profile Russian politicians said they supported a positive reaction to Abkhazia's request.
"We shouldn't wait for Kosovo, and start developing diplomatic relations with Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria," the Interfax agency quoted a member of Russia's Duma legislature, Sergei Baburin, as saying.
Georgian officials were unavailable for comment.
A week ago, pro-Moscow Transdniestria appealed to other ex-Soviet states, including Russia, to recognise its independence. Russia has not so far reacted to the appeal.
"I hope that Russia will think about some of the means it has imposed against Georgia and particularly against Georgians because of their nationality," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said at a news conference during a visit to the Georgian capital. "I find it recalls another era, a time better left behind."
"Fried also expressed concern about the death Tuesday of a Georgian man about to be deported from Russia. The Georgian Embassy said the man had been deprived of medical attention during five days of detention, before dying of an asthma attack. "This is not right," Fried said. "I hope this pressure ends soon. It should end soon. It serves no purpose."
Georgia stands to get whittled away and end up in a situation similar to Israel - surrounded by enemies with very little territory. Better hope they build wealth rapidly the was Israel did or else they'll be in a world of hurt.
"..Southworth also noted that the challenge for Georgia at the moment is to transform the early reform efforts into lasting institutional change in order to maintain high rates of economic growth and reduction of poverty."
I love the way our President has kept his word by continuing to stand with the Georgian people in their time of need.
Georgia's biggest problem is Putin attempting to expand his energy empire.
They're going to have to learn to stand on their own two feet *and* get through the crisis with Abkhazia, which is going to be a huge one eventually.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried's comment relating to how Moscow is treating Georgians based on their race is well worth noting: "I find it recalls another era, a time better left behind."
Putin's despicable actions are a carbon copy of the early stages of Nazi Germany.
Do you think we would support the Georgians with troops to keep Abkhazia? It doesn't seem worth it when the Abkhaz themselves, about 1/2 or more of the population (since they kicked out and killed so many Georgians) wants to be with Russia.
Anyway Fried is in Tbilisi. Lucky him.
"One of the largest companies in the world's banking industry the French Societe Generale Group has stepped into the Georgian market after buying a 60 percent stake of Bank Republic-one of Georgia's top banks."
"Gotsiridze and Mattei also discussed the current economic situation in Georgia. Mattei said Georgia is the best country to invest in. "A very powerful investor has entered Georgia. I want to say that Societe Generale Group's assets are bigger than 1500 Russian banks put together," Gotsiridze said on Tuesday."
" Societe Generale serves more than 20 million individual customers worldwide and ranks among the leading banks in European capital markets and derivatives."
And the race is on to see if Georgia will survive.
Eat dust, Putin.
There is a lot which reminds me of that time period. Wounded pride, nationalism, removal of rights...
Some Russian bloggers have made this point.
Oil has been an issue in the Caucasus for over 100 years
Battle of the Caucasus 1942-1943
The Caucasus and the Oil, The German-Soviet War in the Caucasus 1942/43
In additional to the energy issues this is another reason Putin is having a bird.
Georgia also needs to attempt attract more American, Canadian & other 'Western' banking & corporate interests countering the bear to the north.
with the help of Shamil Basayev, the Butcher of Beslan, Abkhaz nazi separatist murderers ethnically cleansed hundreds of thousands of Georgians from Abkhazia in 1992-1993. Now the Putinista Reich is following in their footsteps and those of Basayev, the animal Russia unleashed on Georgia. At Beslan Russia already suffered the blowback from supporting Basayev's jihad against Georgia, but they learned nothing. They refuse to repent and so they continue in willful sin. The wages of sin are death.
That's a good one.
"with the help of Shamil Basayev, the Butcher of Beslan, Abkhaz nazi separatist murderers ethnically cleansed hundreds of thousands of Georgians from Abkhazia in 1992-1993. Now the Putinista Reich is following in their footsteps and those of Basayev, the animal Russia unleashed on Georgia. At Beslan Russia already suffered the blowback from supporting Basayev's jihad against Georgia, but they learned nothing. They refuse to repent and so they continue in willful sin. The wages of sin are death."
Moscow's blame game continues.....Stalin would be proud.
Russia military chief of staff blames NATO for Russia-Georgia tensions
Abkhaz nazi separatist murderers ethnically cleansed hundreds of thousands of Georgians from Abkhazia in 1992-1993. ==
Joe tell us please who started that war in 1992? Because the inncent watcher should know.
They're going to have to learn to stand on their own two feet *and* get through the crisis with Abkhazia, which is going to be a huge one eventually.==
They will not. Georgia during its history did NEVER stand on thier own feet. She always wanted to find some country which will be her sponsor-master. From 17 century till recently it was Russia.
Now they just changed the master: now it is USA. They will request the dole form USA in always increasing volume. No wonder the georgian population will grow. They will need more and more dole. Open up your wallet:)).
Learn history and you will find all the answers.
P.S. I'm sure that one day I will see the posters here on FR which say that it is all the cunning policy of Putin just to free Russia from those clients of her and put all burden on US shoulders:).
You may want to do the same. Try Estonia for a start.
Estonia
"...party leader Mart Laar became premier. Laar is one of a small group of prominent politicians who have dominated Estonian politics through the series of coalition administrations, which have governed the country since independence."
"Laar is acknowledged as probably the most successful of these, taking much credit for guiding Estonia through major political and economic changes."
You may also want to review the last 80 years or so of history in your country.
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