Tweet
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
German Efforts for Georgia
Cenk Alican
Saturday , 16 August 2008
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her deep concerns regarding
the conflict in the separatist pro-Russian enclaves of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia in the run-up to her meeting with Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea City of Sotchi ` a place just 35
kilometres far to the Georgian border and the expected venue of the
2014 Winter Olympic Games. It will be Medvedev`s 100th day in office
when Merkel arrives on Friday.
Some topics on the meeting agenda changed at a short term and most of
them will focus on the heavy fighting between Russian and Georgian
forces since late last week and will try to find satisfying
solutions. Chancellery Spokesman Thomas Steg said that Merkel called
for an end of the violence, the proper and unconditional withdrawal of
all forces from the crisis area and the search for a political
solution during a phone conversation with Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili on Monday.
Actually Merkel`s visit to Russia and her meeting with Medvedev were
planned to shape the frame of a relaxed and trustful friendship that
would deepen mutual relations and give Merkel the opportunity to
sightsee the Olympic sites. The chilled and smooth atmosphere between
both sides` predecessors Putin and Schröder was expected to
create an exemplary and fruitful basis for this meeting. But now, with
a crisis next door, international criticism on Russia's
disproportionate military response and the fear of oil and gas
shortages through Georgian pipelines, Merkel will need to line up
intensive diplomacy in Sotchi. She already emphasized her respect for
Georgia's territorial integrity.
Also, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made diplomatic
efforts this weekend. He had presented some solution proposals to the
Georgian Government and to the internationally not recognized
authority of the Abkhaz Region during his two-day journey to Georgia
in July. Steinmeier held talks regarding a 3-step-plan with Medvedev
and his Russian counterpart Sergej Lawrow at that time. Germany is
coordinator of a Friendship Group under the umbrella of the UN
Secretary and it participates the United Nations Observer Mission in
Georgia (UNOMIG) with military observers and sanitary troops. UNOMIG
has been monitoring the ceasefire between the conflict parties since
2003. Steinmeier`s efforts yielded fruits and he was able to establish
two direct contacts between Georgian Foreign Minister Eka
Tkeshelashvili and Lawrow at the weekend. Besides, the German Foreign
Ministry provided an immediate 1-Million-Euro humanitarian aid package
and enabled its supply to the civil population through two
humanitarian corridors. In the meanwhile, the German Embassy in
Tbilisi organized busses to transport its citizens out of the
country. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jens Ploetner made clear that this
action is not part of an evacuation plan, but helps Germans to leave
Georgia and to head for the Armenian capital of Yerevan voluntarily.
U.S.-backed Georgia called for ceasefire and signed unilaterally a
four-step peace plan initiated by French Foreign Minister and head of
the rotating EU Council Presidency Bernard Kouchner. Together with his
Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb he runs talks in Tbilisi and
Moscow. German Minister of State Gernot Erler appealed for Russia to
co-operate with international mediators and MP Eckart von Klaeden
criticized Russia's attitude as provocative. EU Foreign Ministers will
hold a special conference after the return of Kouchner from the crisis
area.
Young, charismatic and ambitious Saakashvili desires to join NATO, but
he seems to have failed his election campaign promise to re-establish
Georgia's territorial integrity. He also miscalculated Russia's
military and strategic power that stands head and shoulders above the
Georgian capabilities. The western governments ` including Germany `
did not recognize the seriousness of the situation in time. The crisis
turns to become an internal conflict of the European Union how to deal
with Eastern neighbours, especially with Russia. Germany's `gas
diplomacy' through the direct pipeline connection with Russia `
initiated by former Chancellor Schröder- and the Baku-Ceyhan-Pipeline
that runs partly through Georgia and feeds the European consumers has
an outstanding significance, despite harsh words and warnings by
Merkel. She should be well aware of the situation.
German Efforts for Georgia
Cenk Alican
Saturday , 16 August 2008
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her deep concerns regarding
the conflict in the separatist pro-Russian enclaves of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia in the run-up to her meeting with Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea City of Sotchi ` a place just 35
kilometres far to the Georgian border and the expected venue of the
2014 Winter Olympic Games. It will be Medvedev`s 100th day in office
when Merkel arrives on Friday.
Some topics on the meeting agenda changed at a short term and most of
them will focus on the heavy fighting between Russian and Georgian
forces since late last week and will try to find satisfying
solutions. Chancellery Spokesman Thomas Steg said that Merkel called
for an end of the violence, the proper and unconditional withdrawal of
all forces from the crisis area and the search for a political
solution during a phone conversation with Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili on Monday.
Actually Merkel`s visit to Russia and her meeting with Medvedev were
planned to shape the frame of a relaxed and trustful friendship that
would deepen mutual relations and give Merkel the opportunity to
sightsee the Olympic sites. The chilled and smooth atmosphere between
both sides` predecessors Putin and Schröder was expected to
create an exemplary and fruitful basis for this meeting. But now, with
a crisis next door, international criticism on Russia's
disproportionate military response and the fear of oil and gas
shortages through Georgian pipelines, Merkel will need to line up
intensive diplomacy in Sotchi. She already emphasized her respect for
Georgia's territorial integrity.
Also, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made diplomatic
efforts this weekend. He had presented some solution proposals to the
Georgian Government and to the internationally not recognized
authority of the Abkhaz Region during his two-day journey to Georgia
in July. Steinmeier held talks regarding a 3-step-plan with Medvedev
and his Russian counterpart Sergej Lawrow at that time. Germany is
coordinator of a Friendship Group under the umbrella of the UN
Secretary and it participates the United Nations Observer Mission in
Georgia (UNOMIG) with military observers and sanitary troops. UNOMIG
has been monitoring the ceasefire between the conflict parties since
2003. Steinmeier`s efforts yielded fruits and he was able to establish
two direct contacts between Georgian Foreign Minister Eka
Tkeshelashvili and Lawrow at the weekend. Besides, the German Foreign
Ministry provided an immediate 1-Million-Euro humanitarian aid package
and enabled its supply to the civil population through two
humanitarian corridors. In the meanwhile, the German Embassy in
Tbilisi organized busses to transport its citizens out of the
country. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jens Ploetner made clear that this
action is not part of an evacuation plan, but helps Germans to leave
Georgia and to head for the Armenian capital of Yerevan voluntarily.
U.S.-backed Georgia called for ceasefire and signed unilaterally a
four-step peace plan initiated by French Foreign Minister and head of
the rotating EU Council Presidency Bernard Kouchner. Together with his
Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb he runs talks in Tbilisi and
Moscow. German Minister of State Gernot Erler appealed for Russia to
co-operate with international mediators and MP Eckart von Klaeden
criticized Russia's attitude as provocative. EU Foreign Ministers will
hold a special conference after the return of Kouchner from the crisis
area.
Young, charismatic and ambitious Saakashvili desires to join NATO, but
he seems to have failed his election campaign promise to re-establish
Georgia's territorial integrity. He also miscalculated Russia's
military and strategic power that stands head and shoulders above the
Georgian capabilities. The western governments ` including Germany `
did not recognize the seriousness of the situation in time. The crisis
turns to become an internal conflict of the European Union how to deal
with Eastern neighbours, especially with Russia. Germany's `gas
diplomacy' through the direct pipeline connection with Russia `
initiated by former Chancellor Schröder- and the Baku-Ceyhan-Pipeline
that runs partly through Georgia and feeds the European consumers has
an outstanding significance, despite harsh words and warnings by
Merkel. She should be well aware of the situation.