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Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
March 22 2008
Claiming that Kosovo Set a Precedent for Abkhazia or South Ossetia,
Russia Will Open up a Pandora's Box in Region: Director of Hudson
Institute's Center
22.03.08 16:50
Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 March /corr. Trend News A.Gasimova / Claiming
that Kosovo set a precedent for Abkhazia or South Ossetia, Russia
will open up a Pandora's box in the region.
`Kosovo precedent would certainly have an impact on the
Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia,
with Russia effectively siding with Armenia. Moreover, and most
importantly, how would Russia prevent some of its own separatist
regions, such as Chechnya, Daghestan and Ingushestia from declaring
their own independence?,' said Zeyno Baran, Director of Hudson
Institute's Center for Eurasian Policy.
On 17 Feb, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. The official
Belgrade is not going to recognize Kosovo's independence. Several
countries including US, Great Britain, Germany, France and Turkey
have already recognized its independence. But Russia, Spain, China,
Greece and Georgia support Belgrade's position. Azerbaijan does not
support Kosovo's independence as well.
`The Kosovo decision has clearly changed the dynamics, and Russia has
already broken with the status quo by declaring it would no longer
abide by the sanctions in Abkhazia. President Putin made clear that
if Kosovo's independence is recognized, it would create a precedent,
and he would apply it to Georgia's frozen conflicts'. Baran said.
According to her, If Putin was to actually take this step, he would
run the major risk of uniting the Europeans and also the
trans-Atlantic alliance against him, strengthening support for
Georgia's territorial integrity and further damaging Russia's
international standing.
Russia intends to open its representations in the territories of
unrecognized republics of South Osetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria,
mentioned by the press-release, provided before the hearings in
Russian State Duma's Committee for CIS with regards to `frozen
conflicts' in the post-Soviet territory. In addition, a proposal was
made during the meeting with regards to changes in the format of
relations with South Osetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria. During the
meeting, the Russian side will achieve the participation of the
representatives of unrecognized republics in all international
organizations and forums, which will deal with their interests. In
addition, Russia will achieve the insurance of the rights of Russian
citizens living in these territories.
`This is not the first time the Russian Duma has come up with
initiatives that would damage Russia's international standing, if the
Government were to follow them. I hope and believe the Russian
government will not take this step. I think they will keep the threat
of recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the table, but mainly as
leverage in negotiations with the West over Kosovo. This is a card
they can use once. If they were to now start official negotiations,
there will be reactions from the West, which I don't think Russia
wants,' she said.
On the other regional frozen conflict Transnistria, Baran said that
Russia is trying to reach a deal with Moldova whereby Russia would
`give' the region to Moldova, provided they agree to never join NATO.
`The Russians have made a similar offer to the Georgians: give up
NATO, do not insist on MAP at the Bucharest Summit, and we'll be more
helpful on Abkhazia. Such a bargain is, of course, unacceptable for a
number of reasons. Most importantly, because an overwhelming number
of Georgians want to join NATO - not just for reasons of security, but
also because they feel the alliance most closely corresponds to their
own values,' Baran said.
NATO Summit will take place in Bucharest on 1 April. The Summit is
expected to focus on the issue of Georgia and Ukraine's membership to
the Alliance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
March 22 2008
Claiming that Kosovo Set a Precedent for Abkhazia or South Ossetia,
Russia Will Open up a Pandora's Box in Region: Director of Hudson
Institute's Center
22.03.08 16:50
Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 March /corr. Trend News A.Gasimova / Claiming
that Kosovo set a precedent for Abkhazia or South Ossetia, Russia
will open up a Pandora's box in the region.
`Kosovo precedent would certainly have an impact on the
Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia,
with Russia effectively siding with Armenia. Moreover, and most
importantly, how would Russia prevent some of its own separatist
regions, such as Chechnya, Daghestan and Ingushestia from declaring
their own independence?,' said Zeyno Baran, Director of Hudson
Institute's Center for Eurasian Policy.
On 17 Feb, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. The official
Belgrade is not going to recognize Kosovo's independence. Several
countries including US, Great Britain, Germany, France and Turkey
have already recognized its independence. But Russia, Spain, China,
Greece and Georgia support Belgrade's position. Azerbaijan does not
support Kosovo's independence as well.
`The Kosovo decision has clearly changed the dynamics, and Russia has
already broken with the status quo by declaring it would no longer
abide by the sanctions in Abkhazia. President Putin made clear that
if Kosovo's independence is recognized, it would create a precedent,
and he would apply it to Georgia's frozen conflicts'. Baran said.
According to her, If Putin was to actually take this step, he would
run the major risk of uniting the Europeans and also the
trans-Atlantic alliance against him, strengthening support for
Georgia's territorial integrity and further damaging Russia's
international standing.
Russia intends to open its representations in the territories of
unrecognized republics of South Osetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria,
mentioned by the press-release, provided before the hearings in
Russian State Duma's Committee for CIS with regards to `frozen
conflicts' in the post-Soviet territory. In addition, a proposal was
made during the meeting with regards to changes in the format of
relations with South Osetia, Abkhazia and Transnistria. During the
meeting, the Russian side will achieve the participation of the
representatives of unrecognized republics in all international
organizations and forums, which will deal with their interests. In
addition, Russia will achieve the insurance of the rights of Russian
citizens living in these territories.
`This is not the first time the Russian Duma has come up with
initiatives that would damage Russia's international standing, if the
Government were to follow them. I hope and believe the Russian
government will not take this step. I think they will keep the threat
of recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the table, but mainly as
leverage in negotiations with the West over Kosovo. This is a card
they can use once. If they were to now start official negotiations,
there will be reactions from the West, which I don't think Russia
wants,' she said.
On the other regional frozen conflict Transnistria, Baran said that
Russia is trying to reach a deal with Moldova whereby Russia would
`give' the region to Moldova, provided they agree to never join NATO.
`The Russians have made a similar offer to the Georgians: give up
NATO, do not insist on MAP at the Bucharest Summit, and we'll be more
helpful on Abkhazia. Such a bargain is, of course, unacceptable for a
number of reasons. Most importantly, because an overwhelming number
of Georgians want to join NATO - not just for reasons of security, but
also because they feel the alliance most closely corresponds to their
own values,' Baran said.
NATO Summit will take place in Bucharest on 1 April. The Summit is
expected to focus on the issue of Georgia and Ukraine's membership to
the Alliance.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress