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Russia to recognize Abkhazia?

Mon, 03/10/2008 - 12:10pm

A senior EU official has told reporters that Russia may be preparing to recognize Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia:

There is a growing preoccupation and anxiety that Russia may be paving the way for recognition of Abkhazia," EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said while reaffirming EU support for Georgia's borders.

"Georgia's territorial integrity has always been clearly supported by the EU... this is absolutely clear," she told a news conference before EU foreign ministers were due to discuss Georgia at their monthly meeting in Brussels.

"We will be discussing Georgia and... what can we do in order to support more strongly Georgia in a difficult situation."

Russia took a first step toward recognition last week when it lifted trade restrictions with the territory. It's hard to see this as anything but cynical "Kosovo payback" against Georgia's allies -- the United States and the EU -- that can only further destabalize an already volatile region. But since Abkhazia has been de facto independent since the early '90s and meets most of international law's minimum criteria for sovereignty, it will be interesting to see how Brussels and Washington will make the case that it is less deserving of statehood than Kosovo. We may be witnessing a return to the politically motivated recognition battles of the Cold War era.

The Russians may also be playing with fire by stirring up latent nationalism in the Caucasus -- a policy that they may come to regret down the road.

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Well, this is going worse than I had expected

by DullSteelPeahen on Mon, 03/10/2008 - 12:31pm

I really thought the threat of a "Kosovo effect" was severely over-hyped --until about a week ago. Thaks to the machinations of Russia (and its clients) and Serbia, it is becoming a disastrous and self-fulfilling prophecy.

Hey, here's another

by tortmaster on Mon, 03/10/2008 - 2:01pm

Hey, here's another difference in Kosovo and Abkhazia: In Kosovo, you have a persecuted and economically disadvantaged minority (Albanians) that horned its way into a Serb territory, then used its disadvantaged status, religion, and history of persecution to gain sovereignty. Fair enough, in some eyes.

In Georgia, you have a minority group that was armed, supported, and urged to committ atrocities on the majority Georgian population by the Russians, who send their own 'peacekeepers' in to restore 'order' after Georgia's defeat is a fait accompli. Russia then encouraged the ruble to be the de facto currency, maintained rail lines into Abkhazia from Russia, then issued Russian passports to said minority. Uh-oh, Georgia, be careful! ANy moves to re-take your territory might be seen as threatening Russian citizens!

The next step, which we may be about to see, is for Russia to recognize the sovereignty of the 'nation' it effectively created. Final step? Said nation 'decides' to join Russia, or course.

The snow job being pulled by the Russians here is open and notorious. Those who can't see through this attack on Georgia are generally making a conscious choice not to.

Smell the reality

by aristo_geo on Tue, 03/11/2008 - 9:53pm

Well, we can talk about the issue of Abkhazia and Samachablo all we want but everyone needs to realize that Russia will never ever agree on Georgia joining NATO.
It's not only about Georgia, it's about controlling the Caucasus. Whoever controlls Georgia is going to control Caucasus.

We need to realize who we are dealing with. Russia does not honor agreements, even if they are signed. Georgian government can protest to United Nations and so called europian friend countries all it wants but nothing is hapenning and nothing will happen. Entire europe depends on russian gas supplies. You think europians are crazy to go against russia? Give me a break! Entire europe is just a bunch of chicken countries.

My scenario? Georgia will loose Abkhazia except that small region called upper abkhazia. Georgian population in Gali will be treated as second rate citizens. They will be taxed heavily and humiliated every day by reminding them that they are georgians and abkhazia is only for abkhazians.
I just had a thought, I think most abkhazians don't even know their language, they all speak russian, How convinient for russia, they don't even need to be assimilated. What a looser nation! But wait, I should not say that. Because of stupidity of georgian politicians starting from Gamsakhurdia and finishing with current government and useless opposition, abkhazians are not such loosers after all. Haven't georgians learned who they are dealing with? They are dealing with Russia. Russia who tries to grab everything around itself and then grab even more and more and more..............So, wake up, smell the reality.