Posted on 10/05/2005 8:54:52 AM PDT by Lukasz
SUKHUMI, September 30 (RIA Novosti) - The president of Abkhazia, a self-proclaimed independent republic on Georgian territory, said he would not agree to the deployment of U.S. and EU peacekeeping forces in the region.
"The CIS peacekeeping troops were sent to the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone in line with the May 14, 1994 agreement on a ceasefire and the disengagement of forces," Sergei Bagapsh said, responding to a proposal by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to involve the United States and the European Union in the peacemaking process. "Abkhazia does not plan on making any amendments to the document."
"No other countries can be engaged in the peacekeeping process without our consent," Bagapsh said.
Saakashvili said Wednesday that the U.S. and EU should be part of the settlement efforts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the other self-proclaimed republic in Georgia. "Russia has played a crucial role in the process, but the U.S., which has expressed willingness, must also get involved," the Georgian president said.
Saakashvili said the EU could also play a central role in resolving the conflicts. "Russia is a major player, but Europe must also become more actively involved."
Moldova's Transdnestr region, another self-proclaimed post-Soviet republic, recently agreed to U.S. and EU mediation but only as observers, the republic's foreign ministry said Friday.
The decision regarding Transdnestr was reached during recent talks between the two conflicting sides and mediators (Russia, Ukraine, and the OSCE) held in Odessa, a Ukrainian Black Sea city. The OSCE adopted a document that said observers had no right to participate in decision-making, to sign protocols, to preside over meetings, or to call for meetings.
"We have long been opposed to U.S. involvement, as its role in the Balkans, for example, did not improve, but rather deteriorated, things," Valery Litskai, the foreign minister of Transdnestr, said.
Which countries recognize the three self-proclaimed republics mentioned in the article?
Is it anywhere near Freedonia?
None country recognize them, however they exist only because of support they are getting from Kremlin, which has silent desire to annex South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the future.
Abkhazia will not allow U.S., EU to deploy peacekeeping forces...
Did these guys quit?
Its across the river from Crazystan
Cheheno-Iranian 
At least this one uses enough vowels, as opposed to Kyrgyzstan.
Lukasz is on her hate role again...as in every single day.
Georgia has taken a major step toward correcting or ending Moscow's "peacekeeping" and "mediating" activities in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts on Georgia's territory. Georgian parliamentary leaders in close consultation with the Presidency have drafted a resolution whereby the parliament sets deadlines for corrective measures or, alternatively, termination of those activities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Parliament Chairwoman Nino Burjanadze, foreign affairs committee chairman Kote Gabashvili, and three influential young parliamentarians -- Giga Bokeria, Nika Rurua, and Davit Bakhradze, vice-chairmen respectively of the legal affairs, defense and security, and European integration committees, a generation of rising political leaders -- are the resolution's main drafters.
During more than a decade of Russian "peacekeeping" and "mediation," the document notes, "every effort for conflict-resolution based on internationally recognized norms and democratic principles has reached no tangible result." It observes that Russia's claim to the role of peacekeeper and mediator is incompatible with Russia's actual role in inspiring and sustaining the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts. Moscow "does nothing to advance the process of conflict-resolution; on the contrary, it strengthens the separatist regimes."
The document describes the secessionist authorities as clan-based regimes manipulating ethnic issues in their own interest, their income and power based on smuggling and racketeering. It observes that the two enclaves are rife with gang activity, robbery and kidnapping, and arms trafficking, which "endangers the entire population including the Abkhaz and Ossetian peoples whom the secessionist leaders claim to protect." The enclaves have been turned into "information vacuums that are only filled with anti-Georgian propaganda"; and the authorities persecute those Abkhaz and South Ossetians who have tried to engage in public diplomacy and civic reconciliation with Georgians.
The text goes on to list Russia's steps toward incorporating Abkhazia and South Ossetia de facto into Russia. The enumeration includes: granting Russian citizenship to local residents en masse; official visits by Russian delegations and signing of agreements with the secessionist authorities; appropriation of Georgian assets, including properties of Georgian refugees; arming and training of secessionist forces and sponsoring their military exercises; and sending citizens of Russia, including senior military and intelligence officers, to take up leadership posts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Russian "peacekeeping" forces are shielding those activities, "disregarding international law … and contravening the [stated] goals of conflict resolution and demilitarization," the document notes. In view of the aggravating situation, "The Georgian parliament deems it necessary to achieve rapid progress toward peaceful political conflict-settlements that would guarantee the full range of rights and freedoms for all residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and protection of their identity within a united Georgia."
Consequently, the parliament resolves that the peacekeeping forces' performance deserves a "highly negative assessment." The parliament shall instruct the Georgian government to take up this issue with Russia and international organizations. The government is to report to parliament by February 10 on developments in South Ossetia and by July 1 on developments in Abkhazia. "If the situation continues to warrant a negative assessment and no progress is witnessed," the parliament shall exercise Georgia's sovereign right to demand the termination of Russian peacekeeping operations and associated structures in South Ossetia by February 15 and in Abkhazia by July 15. In that event, the Georgian government shall "undertake appropriate measures for the rapid withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping forces from the territory of Georgia." Concurrently, Georgia's Prosecutor-General's Office shall take legal steps against Russia's citizens who hold leadership posts within the Abkhaz and South Ossetian secessionist authorities.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov reacted instantly by claiming that any withdrawal of Russian "peacekeepers" or change to those operations' format would require "agreement on the part of Abkhazia and South Ossetia." On cue, the Abkhaz and South Ossetian leaders Sergei Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoiti repeated that assertion and gave the Russian peacekeeping operations a "highly positive assessment" as "guarantors of stability."
In reply, Gabashvili commented that Ivanov's statement amounted to "open support to separatism and an effort to thwart the settlement of conflicts." Gabashvili and the other drafters cautioned Moscow that the presence of its "peacekeepers" would officially be declared illegal by Georgia, if Moscow refuses to change the two operations' format or to withdraw the troops at Georgia's request from what is legally Georgia's territory. In the same vein Burjanadze declared, "We want peaceful settlements, but will not tolerate criminal-separatist regimes on our territory that destroy our country."
Saakashvili weighed in with the remark, "Georgia will no longer put up with the freeze on the negotiating process." His is a key conceptual point, clarifying on the highest level that the negotiations, not the conflicts as such, are frozen.
As Gabashvili points out, "It is no longer possible to speak about frozen conflicts, nor about peace processes." Instead, "What we have is direct annexation of these territories by Russia" (Novye izvestiya, September 29-October 5). Given this Russian policy and international passivity in the face of that policy, an internally consolidated Georgia is responding as any normal state would in such a situation.
So, I’m mistaken somewhere in this thread? Just a facts, that you cannot deny.
Recently Abkhazia received something like “observer status” in the association of parliaments of the southern Russia. With blessing of the Russian foreign ministry. Georgia of course protested and accused Moscow of annexation plans. I cannot find this story in English.
Lukasz is him, not her. It is the Polish form of the name Luke.
Lukasz only reports facts.( And Lukasz is HE not SHE.) The facts are as follows:
Abkhazia was a part of Georgia populated mainly by Georgians till 1993 (48% Georgians and 17% Abkhazians). In 1993 Abkhazians armed and supported by Russia drove almost all the Georgians (250 000) out of their contry (ethnic cleansing in its clearest form). No country recognizes internationally Abkhazia now. Abkhazia came to being only thanks to Russia and if ever it will become independent it will always be under Russian influence.
Abkhazia and Moldova are only a few of many examples of Russia's neoimperialist policy.
I think that the most important things to do in Abkhazia is to resettle Georgian refuges. Statistics don’t lie, sooner or later regime without public support will fail.
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"You know JB, if you will call me a man I will slap you crop out of you:}}}}}}}}}Lukasz is man not woman. Above words were meant to relax this thread a little bit. Of fore now above is information of which might be useful."
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Dzieki/thanks
Hi Sara--jb6 stirs things up as usual -:))))) As for Abkhazia, yes I agree that it's time to set a time line for Russian troops to leave the region and reintegrate Abkhazia into Georgia. It's ridiculous to fight Islamic separatism in Chechnya and throughout North Caucasus while supporting another kind of separatism in the neighboring country.
The fun historical thing is that in 1930's Abkhazia was a part of Russian Federation. Stalin was once vacationing there and after some party, decided to write a decree to turn Abkhazia from Russian Soviet Republic to Georgian Soviet Republic. Since he was an absolute tyrant, his decree took effect immediately with some rubberstamp approval of the Supreme Soviet. There were many other stories of the entire regions being transferred between Soviet Republics without any referendum and other "inconveniences" of democratic process--like Crimea passed from Russia to Ukraine in 1954 as a gift to 300 year anniversary of 1654 Khmelnitsky Russian-Ukrainian alliance that eventually ended in absorbtion of Ukraine into Russian Empire.
However, internationally recognized borders must be respected no matter how they came to be.
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