Why I had to Recognise Georgia’s Breakaway Regions

¿Algo de lo comentado por el presidente de Rusia en el Financial Times de Londres puede valer para Catalunya?



De: Oriol Puig Bultó [mailto:opb@deinfo.es]
Reenviado el: sábado, 30 de agosto de 2008 10:57 por Rohaut
Para: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Asunto: Fw: The other...



La otra cara de la moneda...

...side of the coin. And athough it was published in the prestigious "Financial Times", I understand it wasn't commented on in any of the U.S. MSM.



Why I had to Recognise Georgia’s Breakaway Regions

By Dmitry Medvedev

27/08/08 "Financial Times" -- - On Tuesday Russia recognised the independence of the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It was not a step taken lightly, or without full consideration of the consequences. But all possible outcomes had to be weighed against a sober understanding of the situation - the histories of the Abkhaz and Ossetian peoples, their freely expressed desire for independence, the tragic events of the past weeks and inter­national precedents for such a move.

Not all of the world’s nations have their own statehood. Many exist happily within boundaries shared with other nations. The Russian Federation is an example of largely harmonious coexistence by many dozens of nations and nationalities. But some nations find it impossible to live under the tutelage of another. Relations between nations living “under one roof” need to be handled with the utmost sensitivity.

After the collapse of communism, Russia reconciled itself to the “loss” of 14 former Soviet republics, which became states in their own right, even though some 25m Russians were left stranded in countries no longer their own. Some of those nations were un­able to treat their own minorities with the respect they deserved. Georgia immediately stripped its “autonomous regions” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia of their autonomy.

Can you imagine what it was like for the Abkhaz people to have their university in Sukhumi closed down by the Tbilisi government on the grounds that they allegedly had no proper language or history or culture and so did not need a university? The newly independent Georgia inflicted a vicious war on its minority nations, displacing thousands of people and sowing seeds of discontent that could only grow. These were tinderboxes, right on Russia’s doorstep, which Russian peacekeepers strove to keep from igniting.

But the west, ignoring the delicacy of the situation, unwittingly (or wittingly) fed the hopes of the South Ossetians and Abkhazians for freedom. They clasped to their bosom a Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, whose first move was to crush the autonomy of another region, Adjaria, and made no secret of his intention to squash the Ossetians and Abkhazians.

Meanwhile, ignoring Russia’s warnings, western countries rushed to recognise Kosovo’s illegal declaration of independence from Serbia

. We argued consistently that it would be impossible, after that, to tell the Abkhazians and Ossetians (and dozens of other groups around the world) that what was good for the Kosovo Albanians was not good for them. In international relations, you cannot have one rule for some and another rule for others.

Seeing the warning signs, we persistently tried to persuade the Georgians to sign an agreement on the non-use of force with the Ossetians and Abkhazians. Mr Saakashvili refused. On the night of August 7-8 we found out why.
Only a madman could have taken such a gamble. Did he believe Russia would stand idly by as he launched an all-out assault on the sleeping city of Tskhinvali, murdering hundreds of peaceful civilians, most of them Russian citizens? Did he believe Russia would stand by as his “peacekeeping” troops fired on Russian comrades with whom they were supposed to be preventing trouble in South Ossetia?

Russia had no option but to crush the attack to save lives. This was not a war of our choice. We have no designs on Georgian territory. Our troops entered Georgia to destroy bases from which the attack was launched and then left. We restored the peace but could not calm the fears and aspirations of the South Ossetian and Abkhazian peoples - not when Mr Saakashvili continued (with the complicity and encouragement of the US and some other Nato members) to talk of rearming his forces and reclaiming “Georgian territory”. The presidents of the two republics appealed to Russia to recognise their independence.

A heavy decision weighed on my shoulders. Taking into account the freely expressed views of the Ossetian and Abkhazian peoples, and based on the principles of the United Nations charter and other documents of international law, I signed a decree on the Russian Federation’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. I sincerely hope that the Georgian people, to whom we feel historic friendship and sympathy, will one day have leaders they deserve, who care about their country and who develop mutually respectful relations with all the peoples in the Caucasus. Russia is ready to support the achievement of such a goal.



COMMENTS



Well spoken Mr. Medvedev! Don't let the NATO Pussy's, or The US Hegemony-hog's spin a web around the truth in the matter.
PS - Please make sure you live up to your words in relation to unhindered Ossetia, and Abkhazian freedom and autonomy, and that it's decided through a fair referendum by the people.

Otherwise - well done!
Angel Gabriel | 08.27.08 - 1:21 pm | #

Agree with citizen and angel gabriel.
It is always good to protect the weak. Russia did just that.
It is not smart to bully the weak. Someone may just come to the aid of the weak. It is unlikely that bush/rice/cheney learned anything from their debacle. But they were taught a lesson.
pepperdi | 08.27.08 - 1:39 pm | #

Only one word - Congrats on saving a few thousand lives and recreating a few thousand shattered hopes...!
venucor | 08.27.08 - 1:50 pm | #

No justification is necessary Mr. Medvedev.
Russia should be opposing the US hegemony
more actively and sternly.
Ninja
Ninja | 08.27.08 - 1:58 pm | #

...cool....trés cool....
Follow the Facts | 08.27.08 - 2:00 pm | #

Russia broke fascism once. Is it fated to do so again? Russia acted within the spirit of international law and the UN charter, while the modern day US has repudiated both and engages in bare faced aggression and theft of other countries resources. We hanged people at Nuremberg for doing what the neocons have done...but dont hold your breath...
Phil | 08.27.08 - 2:03 pm | #

Everybody should oppose Bush's aggression!
Bush has used nothing but "GUNBOAT" diplomacy and he has failed!
Broken promises, broken treaties, Etc. Etc. Etc..
The Bush administration is the worst administration the United States has had the misfortune to suffer!
BobEgan | 08.27.08 - 2:59 pm | #

Aloha Mr. Medvedev,
Well said. I have a different perspective on my country than I did when I was a young patriot, serving in my country's military. For the last eight years I have been shamed by my country's treatment of individuals who have been denied the basic legal rights of any citizen here. I personally believe that we have become the world's thugs. We have inherited a mad king for our highest office.

As one human to another human our spirits mix on the tide of truth.
Aloha pumehana,

A'A I ka Hula, Waiho Ka Hilahila, I Ka Hale
("Live with passion, EMBRACE CHANGE, Do not fear it" )
BRIGHT BLESSINGS,
Amanda Christian
Amanda Christian | 08.27.08 - 3:09 pm | #