Former Soviet states dismayed at Moscow's action

The Irish Times ^ | August 27, 2008 | Stefan Wagstyl

[Schnucki]

PRESIDENT Dmitry Medvedev's surprise decision to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia was met with cries of joy in the breakaway territories, dismay in Tbilisi and deep unease among Russia's neighbours in eastern Europe.

In Sukhumi, Abkhazia's seaside capital, Maxim Gunjia, the deputy foreign minister, said that the "people were celebrating in the streets".

In Tskhinvali, South Ossetia's war-torn centre, reporters said the air was filled with the demonstrators marking independence by firing Kalashnikovs and hunting guns. However, in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, officials condemned the Russian decision as "unconcealed annexation".

Their concern was shared by other former Soviet Union countries. They fear that Moscow is intent on reasserting its influence in the region and argue that, having sent its troops into Georgia, Russia could find it easier to resort to military intervention in other political hot spots.

In a statement, Ukraine's foreign ministry cancelled a junior minister's planned visit to Moscow, condemned Russia and questioned whether Moscow's actions amounted to a plan to turn its "neighbours into a military training ground" to pursue its foreign policies.

Leaders in the Baltic states, small countries that feel exposed to Russian pressure as the only ex-Soviet republics to join Nato and the European Union, urged the west to defend Georgia's territorial integrity. They fear that a failure to block Russia in Georgia may make it more difficult to stop the Kremlin interfering elsewhere.

But Mr Medvedev denied the action set any precedents for other trouble spots in the former Soviet Union: "As far as involvement in other conflicts is concerned, we naturally are not going to do this (offer military support)."

However, in words that do not reassure Moscow's neighbours, he added: "But Russia is a state which has to ensure its interests along the whole length of its border, this is absolutely

[dblshot]

Now I saved you,” cried the woman
And you’ve bit me, even why?
And you know your bite is poisonous and now I’m going to die”
“Ah shut up, silly woman,” said that reptile with a grin
“Now you knew darn well I was a snake before you brought me in!”

Al Wilson
The Snake

[TexanToTheCore]

“Deep unease” doesn’t begin to cover the feeling the former Soviet republics are feeling. “We’re next” is probably more accurate.