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LAVROV STATES RUSSIAN POSITION ON CAUCASUS CONFLICTS
By Ernest Petrosyan
The Messenger
Sept 29 2011
Georgia
"We are strongly committed to doing our utmost in order to prevent a
repetition of the use of force scenario in the Caucasus as happened in
August 2008 as a result of a reckless venture by the ruling regime
in Tbilisi," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his
speech to the UN General Assembly on September 27, where he spoke of
conflicts in the post-Soviet space, also mentioning Nagorno-Karabakh
and Transdnistria.
Lavrov insisted on Moscow's role as a peace and security "guarantor"
rather than as an active combatant in Georgia's conflicts, and called
for non-use of force arrangements between Tbilisi and the breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"Russia is ready to act as a guarantor of arrangements on the non-use
of force between Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia taking into
account the earlier relevant statements made by the leaders of these
three parties," said Lavrov. He also noted that the Russian side would
welcome it if the United States and the European Union made similar
commitments. As guarantors, we would be ready to take steps to prevent
the resumption of violence in the region and in case of wrongful use
of force by either side, to work towards the early settlement of the
situation on the basis of the existing norms of international law,"
he added.
According to Lavrov, the Russian Federation continues to pressure
Tbilisi to sign the non-use of force agreement between Sukhumi and
Tskhinvali, representing them as the main sides in the conflicts. Such
a proposal however, is opposed by Tbilisi, since the Georgian
government, considers the Russian Federation as a main player in the
conflict, and refuses to cooperate with the puppet regimes in the
breakaway regions.
Last year the Russian Federation also offered unilateral non-use
of force declarations to be made separately by Tbilisi, Sokhumi and
Tskhinvali, instead of signing agreements. However, after President
Saakashvili made such a unilateral non-use of force pledge at the
European Parliament on November 23, Moscow restated that there must be
a written agreement between the sides, but at the same time refused
to take part in such an agreement, arguing that it is "a mediator"
and "guarantor", not a party into the conflict.
President Saakashvili also raised this issue during his speech to
the UN General Assembly a week ago, saying that almost a year after
solemnly pledging that Georgia "will never use force to liberate its
regions currently occupied by the Russian Federation," Tbilisi was
still waiting for Moscow's reciprocal pledge.
Political Analyst Zurab Abashidze also considers that such statements
and proposals from the Russian side will not have any consequences.
"It is obvious that Russia represents a part of the conflict, and it
would be reasonable to sign a non-use of force agreement with Russia
itself. President Saakashvili announced at various international events
that Georgia will never apply force in regard to both conflicts, and
this should be enough", said Abashidze. He also excluded that the US
and EU will follow Lavrov's offer to share such security guarantor
commitments with the Russian Federation.
By Ernest Petrosyan
The Messenger
Sept 29 2011
Georgia
"We are strongly committed to doing our utmost in order to prevent a
repetition of the use of force scenario in the Caucasus as happened in
August 2008 as a result of a reckless venture by the ruling regime
in Tbilisi," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his
speech to the UN General Assembly on September 27, where he spoke of
conflicts in the post-Soviet space, also mentioning Nagorno-Karabakh
and Transdnistria.
Lavrov insisted on Moscow's role as a peace and security "guarantor"
rather than as an active combatant in Georgia's conflicts, and called
for non-use of force arrangements between Tbilisi and the breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"Russia is ready to act as a guarantor of arrangements on the non-use
of force between Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia taking into
account the earlier relevant statements made by the leaders of these
three parties," said Lavrov. He also noted that the Russian side would
welcome it if the United States and the European Union made similar
commitments. As guarantors, we would be ready to take steps to prevent
the resumption of violence in the region and in case of wrongful use
of force by either side, to work towards the early settlement of the
situation on the basis of the existing norms of international law,"
he added.
According to Lavrov, the Russian Federation continues to pressure
Tbilisi to sign the non-use of force agreement between Sukhumi and
Tskhinvali, representing them as the main sides in the conflicts. Such
a proposal however, is opposed by Tbilisi, since the Georgian
government, considers the Russian Federation as a main player in the
conflict, and refuses to cooperate with the puppet regimes in the
breakaway regions.
Last year the Russian Federation also offered unilateral non-use
of force declarations to be made separately by Tbilisi, Sokhumi and
Tskhinvali, instead of signing agreements. However, after President
Saakashvili made such a unilateral non-use of force pledge at the
European Parliament on November 23, Moscow restated that there must be
a written agreement between the sides, but at the same time refused
to take part in such an agreement, arguing that it is "a mediator"
and "guarantor", not a party into the conflict.
President Saakashvili also raised this issue during his speech to
the UN General Assembly a week ago, saying that almost a year after
solemnly pledging that Georgia "will never use force to liberate its
regions currently occupied by the Russian Federation," Tbilisi was
still waiting for Moscow's reciprocal pledge.
Political Analyst Zurab Abashidze also considers that such statements
and proposals from the Russian side will not have any consequences.
"It is obvious that Russia represents a part of the conflict, and it
would be reasonable to sign a non-use of force agreement with Russia
itself. President Saakashvili announced at various international events
that Georgia will never apply force in regard to both conflicts, and
this should be enough", said Abashidze. He also excluded that the US
and EU will follow Lavrov's offer to share such security guarantor
commitments with the Russian Federation.