PEACE IN GEORGIA

Georgia is in favor of maintaining UN observer mission, “but not at any price,” Giga Bokeria, the Georgian deputy foreign minister, said on June 5.
UN Security Council will meet on June 12 to discuss the matter and the resolution by the Council is expected for June 15, when the current four-month mandate of UN observer mission, monitoring situation on the both sides of the Abkhaz administrative border, as well as in upper Kodori Gorge, expires.
Civil Georgia reports.

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Publication from Eurasia Daily Monitor
By: Vladimir Socor

Russia no longer needs to veto the U.N. Security Council's (UNSC) resolution on the mandate of U.N. observers in Georgia, which expires on June 15. Intimidated by Moscow's veto threats, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and some key UNSC members have bowed to Russian demands and agreed to change key wording in the Secretary-General's report that recommends a new mandate for the observers.
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Hürriyet Daily News reports, that Benetton Turkey, the Turkish arm of Italy’s leading manufacturer, announced the opening of a store in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia. Benetton Turkey became the first global brand to do so, after opening up a store in Tbilisi, Georgia.
"Abkhazia is the door that opens the historical Silk Road to the sea. It has a strategic importance with its tourism and sea transportation," said Zeynep Selgur, general manager of Benetton Turkey, in a statement yesterday. "Benetton was the first global brand to open a branch in Turkey in 1985. We are proud to continue this trend in Abkhazia. We would like to continue our investments in Turkic Republics and in Cyprus."

What will be the response of Georgian government?

Congress of the refugees expressed concern on the unprecedented inadequate approach to the existing realities in Georgia in the report of UN Secretary-General submitted to the Security Council. For the first time, the UN secretary general's report does not fix that the territorial integrity of Georgia is inviolable and a traditional phrase "Abkhazia, Georgia" was removed from the text, the congress's Chairman David Gulua said at a news conference on May 25. "On the backdrop of the Russian aggression in August 2008 and occupation of the country's large parts, we accept such an approach as an attempt to hush crimes of the aggressor-country and its fifth column against humanity," he said.
The refugees' congress has sent a special address to Ban Ki-Moon, which expresses its strong protest.
"It is categorically inadmissible for us and inadequate approach to the criminal regime of Abkhazia causes surprise, which seized the power via the genocide and violence," the address said.
Congress of the refugees said that it knows the price of the negotiations well. Therefore, the congress waited patiently and with hope that the peace process under UN auspices would have made a real prospect of resolving the conflict. "But from this point of view, the UN secretary general's report - the subject of extreme concern, since called into question the integrity and the fundamental principles for which protection the UN was founded. Therefore, we believe that the approaches outlined in the report are contrary to the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law. We state with a sense of responsibility that such an attitude could lead to a new escalation of the conflict," the Congress states.
Georgia, Tbilisi, May 25 /Trend News

 A regiment of the Eastern group of forces is being moved to the border with Georgia on order from supreme commander-in-chief, President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh and on instruction from Defence Minister, Colonel-General Mirab Kishmariya.
The troops are moved “to perform tasks to protect public order,” Alexander Pavlushko, the Abkhazian deputy defence minister, told reporters. He said the regiment of the Eastern group of forces “will assist border troops in the protection of the state border.” Itar-Tass
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I am recalling the report of a Brussels-based think-tank International Crisis Group (released on November 26), saying Sokhumi Wants UN to Stay in Face of Russian Troops Presence. As it was reported, Senior Abkhaz officials have privately told Western diplomats that they would like the UN observers “to stay on in some capacity, so they are not left solely with Russian troops.”
some Analysts already argue that Russians thought that having recognized the independence of Abkhazia, they deserve gratitude from the Abkhazians, but in fact they were mistaken.
No, I am not going to tell you anything more, it's just a tip for your consideration....

February 17, 2008 - seems like an ordinary date, right? well, not really...
"As jubilant Kosovars danced in front of the Newborn statue unveiled in the capital, Pristina, to commemorate their long-awaited independence on February 17, 2008, many political leaders around the world watched the events with different emotions," - Darko Duridanski, Macedonian journalist recalls this day. Yes, on this day Kosovo announced its independence.
When I last met Darko (a very good friend of mine) he was already planning his research about the reflections of kosovo precedent on other sesseccionist regions, such as Basque and Abkhazia. We have been in touch during his visit in Georgia, including Abkhazia. After visiting Tbilisi,  Sukhumi, Vitoria, Bilbao and Pristina Darko prepared an exellent work on current secessionist movements and the debate as a whole, giving a great opportunity to have a look on Georgian, Balkan and Spanish cases. I am sure ones interested in these topics will find Darko's article interesting and useful at the same time.

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Sukhumi residents watch the Independence Day parade from the frameless windows of the former Soviet parliament building. (Photo by Sophia Mizante) from eurasianet.com

Yeah, September 30 was Independence Day for Abkhazia and tragic and mourning day for all the Other parts of Georgia.
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, the highest profile Russian politician attended Abkhaz Independence Day festivities and claimed that Russia has "always" supported Abkhazia. "We are always together!" he declared to thunderous applause.  How interesting it is, I remember Russia "always" supported sovereign and united Georgia, hm..... 
Some veterans of the 1992-1993 war with Georgia caution that such displays do not mean that Abkhazia is ready to merge with Russia. "I haven’t heard of any people saying they want to be part of Russia," said one Sukhumi veteran who gave his name as Merab. "We won’t give up our chance at statehood like that. Otherwise, what was the point of fighting?" Good  question merab, I wish you know the answer!!!
Concluded one elderly flower seller at Sukhumi’s bazaar: "Independence means we’re with Russia, and that we’re safe. That’s it. We can’t be independent without Russia."
No comments needed. This is how these newly recognized states of 21 century decide for their destiny.
Read article on eurasianet.org


Posters of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Vladislav Ardzinba, the first president of the breakaway region Abkhazia, are available at a street vendor in Sukhumi on Sept. 30, the territory?s self-proclaimed Independence Day. (Photo by Sophia Mizante) from eurasianet.com 

Sometimes I get nostalgic.... After surfing the internet I found Georgian broadcasting online. News program was over and it was time for weather forecast for Georgian teritory. Its has started with the weather in Sokhumi and Gagra (cities in region of Abkhazia, Georgia)... Wind was expected from north and the sun was supposed to rise from east. What a deep sense, I thought for myself. After 17 years since war, we still have Sokhumi in our weather forecast list, may be weather can tell us what to expect next?!  

A man hangs out flags representing the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and of Russia and Nicaragua on top of the burned hotel and restaurant Abkhazia in Sukhumi. Russia and Nicaragua are the only countries to have recognized the independence of Abkhazia and south Ossetia. (Photo by Sophia Mizante)  from eurasianet.org

I was born in Abkhazia, Sokhumi. There is a little I remember about it but it was something my parents and relatives gentely installed in me. It was growing with me all these years. Now its 22 years old. Not a child anymore. It's much more mature then others in this age and pretty independent. Yeah independent, not like the real Abkhazia that claims being idnependent. You know what? I would even leave the idea of bringing back Abkhazia forever and would let them to leave, if only they were really independent. But I can't close my eyes on the reality and lie to myself. If only somebody was happy after this war, I would be glad, but was it all for super-power struggle and interests? yes, it was indeed and that makes me to feel more sad about fatality of my country's history. 
I am a political scinces student and despite it I never manage to look at Georgian conflicts from a an academic point of view. But it's not just about me, it's enough to attend any conflict subject class at any university and when it comes to your own country or feelings it's always hard to keep yourself in academic frames and idealistic principles. But this is what it is, it's all about real people transforming idealistic and sometimes surealistic scientific and well written values into real life where it's is never perfect as it sounds in the books.
yestarday I was asked to answer some questions for Macedonian (yes, say Macedonia) newspaper and one sounded like this: how do Georgians look at Abkhazians? If you want general attitude of society I would say, for them Abkhazia is taken-away home. Georgians feel like betrayed by a family member for a promised gold. Yes, Georgians feel sorry for Abkhazians and call them as victims of Russian politics. You will often  hear Georgans saying that one day Abkhazians will understand what a huge mistake they did and wish to be with Georgians again. The hatred that exists today is a result of this coflict and not the reason for this, it was long time ago planned conflict (like other conflicts in the caucasus) by soviets that appeared to have a far reached results.  

I am not sad, I am just sad, as  well as I am not pessimistic , just not optimistic as well.... just now, for a moment......

By Roman Kupchinsky

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

 

Available just In Russian

Дата : 29.08.2008 17:07
Передача : Особое мнение
Ведущие : Лев Гулько
Гости : Валерия Новодворская

Л. ГУЛЬКО: Меня зовут Лев Гулько, это передача «Особое мнение», в студии журналист Валерия Новодворская. Добрый вечер.
В. НОВОДВОРСКАЯ: Добрый вечер, Лева, что это вы без противогаза?
Л. ГУЛЬКО: У меня лицо такое, что вы, какой противогаз?
В. НОВОДВОРСКАЯ: «Эхо» очень близко от Кремля расположено.
Л. ГУЛЬКО: И вы думаете, что?
В. НОВОДВОРСКАЯ: Если ракета-томогавк попадет в Кремль.
Л. ГУЛЬКО: То противогаз не поможет, я вас уверяю, поэтому я без противогаза.
В. НОВОДВОРСКАЯ: Т.е. уже ничего не поможет?

 

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August 29 2008

By Stefan Wagstyl in London, Charles Clover in Moscow and,Geoff Dyer in Beijing

At a central Asian summit in Tajikistan, Mr Medvedev was unable to persuade Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, or other regional leaders to give explicit backing to Russia's intervention or its decision to recognise the independence of the two breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Georgia.

 

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From civil.ge

 The Georgian parliament unanimously passed a resolution on August 28 formally declaring Abkhazia and South Ossetia Russian-occupied territories, and calling Russian troops, occupying forces. 

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UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
August 28, 2008
UN Webcast Archive
5969th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED BY POLITICAL AFFAIRS, PEACEKEEPING ON GEORGIA DEVELOPMENTS,
INCLUDING 26 AUGUST RECOGNITION DECREES ON ABKHAZIA, SOUTH OSSETIA
Russian Federation Reads Out Decrees to Council;
Georgia Says Declarations Illegal, Country Invaded, But Not Defeated

Statements

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IRAKLI ALASANIA ( Georgia) said he appreciated the convening of the meeting and thanked the Secretariat for the updates on the situation. He said the request for a meeting of the Council had been necessitated by the illegal unilateral act of the Russian Federation concerning South Ossetia and Abkhazia. On 26 August, a decree had been made by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in which he referred to the two regions as republics, in violation of the principles of respect for the territorial integrity of States. The Russian Federation’s action was, therefore, contrary to the very principles and values on which the United Nations was founded. The Russian Federation, a member of the Security Council, had interfered in the principles of the inviolability of States and their territorial integrity, and its illegal and unilateral action had already come under condemnation by the international community. Now, the Russian Federation must be sent the strongest message by the Security Council so as to ensure other separatist elements in the world did not misread the message about such action.

 

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UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
August 28, 2008
UN Webcast Archive
5969th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFED BY POLITICAL AFFAIRS, PEACEKEEPING ON GEORGIA DEVELOPMENTS,
INCLUDING 26 AUGUST RECOGNITION DECREES ON ABKHAZIA, SOUTH OSSETIA
Russian Federation Reads Out Decrees to Council;
Georgia Says Declarations Illegal, Country Invaded, But Not Defeated

On 26 August, the President of the Russian Federation had signed decrees on the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent States, a representative of the Department of Political Affairs told the Security Council today, as she briefed members on the situation in Georgia.

 

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On 16 August 2008 at approximately 4 p.m. local time, armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime together with units of the Russian regular army shifted the administrative border of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia towards the Enguri River. This caused the villages of the Zugdidi region Ganmukhuri and Khurcha, villages of the Tsalenjikha region Fakhulani, Tchale, Mujava and Fotskho-Etseri, as well as territory of the Enguri Hydro Power Plant and adjacent villages of Phichori, Otobaia, Nabakevi, Tagiloni, Chuburkhinji, Dikhazurga and Saberio to fall under the occupation of the Russian army and armed gangs of the Abkhazian separatist regime. In those villages Abkhazian separatist government set up temporary administration.

BalkanInsight.com

Russia's ambassador to Belgrade has thanked Serbs for their "understanding of the situation in Georgia". In a statement to Belgrade's B92 television, Aleksandar Konuzin said Moscow was grateful for “the sympathy showed towards Russians and Russia’s citizens” during the armed conflict over the breakaway Georgia’s South Ossetia province.

Russian media continues agressive propaganda and missinforming Russians population and world as whole, publishing articles ander such titles: GEORGIAN DISTRICT OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION!!!!! (see http://anonymouse.org/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2008/08/14_a_2810757.shtml) I would lough some weeks ago reading this, but now it's not a topic for kidding any more....
Russia's foreign minister declared Thursday that the world "can forget about" Georgia's territorial integrity. 

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