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Axis of Evil Shaping Against Moscow

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  • Axis of Evil Shaping Against Moscow

    KOMMERSANT

    KOMMERSANT News, MARCH 03, 2005

    Axis of Evil Shaping Against Moscow

    Rose-orange Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are establishing an anti-Russian
    tie-up to force Moscow from Caucasus and Pridnestrovie, analysts say quoted
    by the RBC news agency.


    Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili arrived in Moldova last night. In
    Kishinev, Saakashvili held talks with Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin.
    The parties canvassed establishing cooperation under the GUUAM bloc, which
    unites Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan (membership of
    the last two countries is formal), to oppose `Russia's imperialism' in the
    region. Only three parties appear aggressively involved in consultations.
    The day before yesterday, Voronin went to Kiev to negotiate with Ukrainian
    President Viktor Yushchenko. By mere chance, the visit of Moldova's leader
    coincided with the tour of the new Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli. Top
    officials have never bothered to conceal the target of GUUAM revival. The
    main highlights are forcing Russia from the Caucasus and Pridnestrovie;
    establishment of transport corridors, going the round of Russia. Therefore,
    the parties actually endeavor to create a sanitary corridor to isolate
    Russia from Europe and Transcaucasia. In view of the traditionally weak
    foreign policy of Russia, Moscow is unable to rebuff, analysts told RBC. The
    only way out is stop dancing to someone else's pipe and apply `nonstandard
    methods.'

    It was exactly creation of a trilateral anti-Russian union
    (Georgia-Moldova-Ukraine) based on GUUAM bloc that was in the limelight of
    Kishinev negotiations. Before the Georgia-Moldova's summit, that matter had
    been thoroughly discussed in Kiev, in the course of the meeting between
    Yushchenko and Voronin.

    `GUUAM block had been created long ago and shaped by 1999, but it was idle
    de-factor. Now, after a series of `color' revolutions the hopes have sprung
    for its revival,' said Sergey Borovikov, expert at St. Petersburg
    Constructing Future analytical group.

    `GUUAM reanimation is underway. A triple axis that yet comprises Georgia,
    Ukraine and Moldova is being created. The aim of this union is to force
    Russia from Caucasus and the southeastern Europe. Armenia and Pridnestrovie
    have turned out completely isolated from the RF. Ukraine and Moldova
    enforced severe economic blockage of Tiraspol, having cut the developed
    industry of Pridnestrovie of the market outlet,' said Alexander Skakov,
    expert at the Russian Strategic Research Institute. In Tbilisi and Kishinev,
    they are looking to the West for help. A few days ago, Salome Zurabishvili
    called on the United States and the EU to render real support to the
    republic, when it is striving to get rid of the rudimental influence of
    Russian military bases and to oppose Moscow's encouragement of two
    separatists' republics.

    Meanwhile, the battle might turn out not so losing for Russia. `The key
    thing is not to repeat mistakes made in Ukraine and Abkhazia, i.e. not to
    get involved in the `color' revolutions,' Borovikov said. Russia must
    deliver unusual response. For instance, it may denounce Molotov-Ribbentrop
    Pact and offer the neighbors to revise borders, in a move to trigger
    concerns in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and Moldova. Or Russian military
    bases could be assigned to the Emergency Ministry, which may be fighting
    `disastrous humanitarian situation' and terrorism in Georgia and
    Pridnestrovie, Borovikov offered. Such point of view is shared by Alexander
    Sobyanin, head of the strategic planning service at the Association of
    Frontier Cooperation. `Russia is weak. We must act in full conformity with
    the Western rhetoric, but under our own, not other's rules,' Sobyanin
    specified.
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