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RUSSIA WINS BACKING OF SEVERAL CIS MEMBERS FOR ITS ROLE IN WAR IN GEORGIA
Grace Annan
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 8, 2008
At the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) late last week, the Russian delegation won the backing of all
member states for its actions during the five-day war in Georgia. The
approved text states that the CSTO--which consists of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan--supports
the Kremlin's role in "contributing to peace and cooperation in the
Caucasus" and asks for peace in the two separatist regions Abkhazia
and South Ossetia along the lines propagated in the peace plan of the
French government. The text entirely blames the Georgian government
for the start of the war, but none of the member states recognised the
two regions. The CSTO approved the idea to replace the current arms
reduction treaty with a European security treaty; Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev had floated this idea in July 2008.
Significance:The CSTO's decision mirrors that of the European Union
(EU) last week, when they blamed one of the two main actors in the
war but refrained from any drastic immediate measures. Last week,
the Kremlin got a slap on its wrist and this week it was Georgia's
turn. Indeed, the Peace Plan of mid-August 2008 has not put an end
to the diplomatic limbo over Georgia; an EU triumvirate is currently
visiting Moscow to discuss a way out with the Kremlin. Third countries
remain largely divided over the way ahead, regarding relations with the
Georgian government and the leaders of the separatist regions. Even
strong allies of the Kremlin cannot get themselves to recognise them
at this stage.
Grace Annan
World Markets Research Centre
Global Insight
September 8, 2008
At the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) late last week, the Russian delegation won the backing of all
member states for its actions during the five-day war in Georgia. The
approved text states that the CSTO--which consists of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan--supports
the Kremlin's role in "contributing to peace and cooperation in the
Caucasus" and asks for peace in the two separatist regions Abkhazia
and South Ossetia along the lines propagated in the peace plan of the
French government. The text entirely blames the Georgian government
for the start of the war, but none of the member states recognised the
two regions. The CSTO approved the idea to replace the current arms
reduction treaty with a European security treaty; Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev had floated this idea in July 2008.
Significance:The CSTO's decision mirrors that of the European Union
(EU) last week, when they blamed one of the two main actors in the
war but refrained from any drastic immediate measures. Last week,
the Kremlin got a slap on its wrist and this week it was Georgia's
turn. Indeed, the Peace Plan of mid-August 2008 has not put an end
to the diplomatic limbo over Georgia; an EU triumvirate is currently
visiting Moscow to discuss a way out with the Kremlin. Third countries
remain largely divided over the way ahead, regarding relations with the
Georgian government and the leaders of the separatist regions. Even
strong allies of the Kremlin cannot get themselves to recognise them
at this stage.