Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

[jgk3]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

To me it's just another sign (though this one has strong symbolic significance) that Moscow is pulling the strings in the region.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Georgia 'seizes Russian soldier'


Russia has accused Georgia of capturing a Russian soldier in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russian news agencies report.

A Russian defence ministry spokesman said soldier Alexander Glukhov had been seized in the Akhalgori region.

Georgia's interior ministry said the soldier had surrendered to its police, requesting Georgian citizenship.

The Akhalgori region was under Tbilisi's control until last August's war between Georgia and Russia.

During the brief war, Georgia's attempts to regain control of South Ossetia were repelled by Russian forces.

Tbilisi has urged Moscow to withdraw forces from Akhalgori after the conflict ended with an EU-brokered ceasefire.

'Provocation'

"A preliminary investigation has revealed that Alexander Glukhov was captured by Georgian forces in the Akhalgori region of South Ossetia and taken to Tbilisi," Russian defence ministry spokesman Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky told Russian news agencies.

Col Drobyshevsky said the defence ministry was demanding that Tbilisi hand back the soldier.

The spokesman also described comments by the Georgian defence ministry as "provocation".

Tbilisi said the 21-year-old deserted the Russian army on Monday night.

In a televised interview filmed by the Georgian army, Alexander Glukhov said he decided to seek asylum in Georgia because he was fed up with poor conditions in the Russian army.

He also said that he had to go without food in the Russian army during the cold winter.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7853736.stm

[Alexandros]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addresses students at Moscow's Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University in Moscow.


Chavez Recognizes South Ossetia, Abkhazia As Independent

Last updated (GMT/UTC): 10.09.2009 09:29

MOSCOW -- On a visit to Moscow, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says Caracas plans to immediately recognize Georgia's pro-Russia separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Chavez told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a visit to the Kremlin that his country would consider the two regions -- considered by most of the world as part of Georgia -- sovereign states "from today," Russian news agencies reported.

Russia recognized the two rebel regions as independent in the wake of its war last year with Georgia, but most of the world condemned the move and considers them part of Georgian territory.

Only Nicaragua had previously joined Moscow in recognizing them as independent.

Earlier, Chavez praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin for standing up to the United States, on a visit that the Kremlin said will focus on major energy and military agreements.

Cooperation between Russia, the world's No. 2 oil exporter, and OPEC member Venezuela has been dismissed by the United States as mostly talk but is watched with concern by Colombia, which has stormy ties with its Latin American neighbor.

Chavez began his visit with a two-and-a-half hour speech to Moscow students in which he berated the United States for seeking to control the world with a "terrorist" empire.

"The United States wants to dominate the entire world...The empire of the Yanks will fall this century and I am not talking about the end of the century but in the next decades," Chavez told about 1,000 students.

"That is why it is so important that Russia is getting up from its knees -- this is the great inheritance from Putin," he said in a speech which feted Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Chavez was greeted warmly by students of the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University, though scores left early to watch a World Cup soccer qualifier between Russia and Wales.

The Kremlin, which under Putin's presidency from 2000 to 2008 frequently clashed with Washington, has previously sought to distance itself from Chavez's fiery anti-U.S. rhetoric.

The Kremlin said talks with President Dmitry Medvedev and Putin, who now serves as prime minister, would focus on widening military and energy cooperation.

"About 10 agreements which embrace the fuel and energy sector, military technical cooperation, and finance have been prepared," said Kremlin foreign policy aide Sergei Prikhodko.

Arms, Energy

Chavez, a former soldier who led an abortive 1990s coup before later winning an election, has purchased more than $4 billion worth of Russian arms to rearm the Venezuelan Army, including fighters and thousands of Kalashnikovs.

The Kremlin said no major arms deals were expected during the visit but that Russia could lend Venezuela money to buy its military equipment.

Chavez has said he wants to buy dozens of Russian tanks to counter a planned increase in U.S. military cooperation with Venezuela's Andean neighbor Colombia.

Venezuela and Colombia came close to war last year and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has accused Chavez of supporting FARC Marxist rebels fighting Bogota.

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and a consortium of Russian companies were expected to present a joint venture to develop a block in the Orinoco oil belt this month.

"An agreement between the Russian oil consortium and PDVSA will be signed in the near future," Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin told reporters in Moscow. "The creation of a joint venture is yet to be approved by Venezuela's parliament."

It was unclear if a formal contact to jointly develop the Junin 6 block, with estimated production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day, would be signed during the visit.

The Russian consortium includes Rosneft, Gazprom, Lukoil, TNK-BP, and Surgutneftegaz. It also intends to bid for blocks in the Carabobo project.

Compiled from agency reports

Link

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Abkhazia hopes for swift recognition from Turkey


Turkish foreign policy’s dilemma on the Georgia-Abkhazia conflict is rising to the surface once more. ‘We certainly hope that Turkey will recognize Abkhazia. There are some positive signals," Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba said following his talks with high-ranked Turkish diplomat Ünal Çeviköz.

The first-ever visit by a high-ranking Turkish diplomat to the self-proclaimed Abkhazia Republic has boosted the breakaway republic's hopes of being recognized by Turkey.

“We certainly hope that Turkey will recognize Abkhazia. There are some positive signals but they have to be materialized. We’re waiting for a more active approach,” Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a phone interview.

Turkish Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Ünal Çeviköz visited Abkhazia on Thursday on the sidelines of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s official talks with Tbilisi. Georgian officials were informed in advance about Çeviköz meetings in Abkhazia, reaffirming that Turkey’s policy of protecting the territorial integrity and political unity of Georgia has not changed.

Abkhazia announced its independence in 1999. But what changed the landscape was Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia last year after the war with Georgia. Nicaragua and Venezuela followed Russia, increasing the hopes of this tiny breakaway state.

Turkish foreign policy’s dilemma on the Georgia-Abkhazia conflict rose to the surface once more after a Turkish vessel called Buket was seized in international waters by Georgian coast guards with accusation of smuggling oil to Abkhazia. The captain, Mehmet Öztürk, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, but was released on Monday as a result of Davutoğlu’s talks in Tbilisi.

“The main topic was about the captured ship and our bilateral relations,” Foreign Minister Shamba said in the wake of his talks with Ambassador Çeviköz.

Seeking alliance with Turkey

With hope of a Turkish alliance, Shamba said: “We want Turkey to make its position clear that the capture of a Turkish ship in international waters is not admissible. It is in the interest of regional stability to prevent any escalation from taking place.”

“The talks were constructive,” he said, declining to give further details.

Shamba complained about the lack of direct transportation links with Turkey and urged that Abkhazian diaspora are deeply in need of it. Turkey, however, still supports the economic sanctions imposed against Abkhazia by the Commonwealth of Independent States.

“We’d like to develop economic and humanitarian contact with Turkey. We request opening of communications and passenger transport. It is a big interest because we are neighbors and we have a big Abkhazian diaspora in Turkey,” he said.

Around 500,000 Turkish citizens consider themselves to be of Abkhazian origin. Ambassador Çeviköz’s visit gave hope to those who have been lobbying for recognition of the Abkhazia Republic.

Asked if he was assured that Turkey shifted its policy and might soon recognize Abkhazia, Shamba replied: “It is difficult to say now, but we’ll closely follow the situation and we’d like to maintain contacts with Turkish representatives.”

In response to Shamba’s remarks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Burak Özügergin underscored that “there is no policy change in the Caucasus” in an interview with the Daily News.

Help us to blockade the sea

Apart from the recognition, the Abkhazian foreign minister also expects Turkey to mediate to stop the sea-blockade imposed on them.

Asked what measures they are considering to break the Georgian blockade, he hinted that armed actions are on the agenda, saying: “We are now counter-playing different forms of actions ... The actions will be appropriate if needed. Symmetrical actions with the Georgian side – we will see. We hope that this incident is the last one.”

In the hope to intensify political contacts, Shamba expects to have talks in Ankara as well, saying: “We have constant contacts at different levels. If it is needed we can visit. It is possible in the near future, but it’s not yet fixed on the agenda.”

Without hinting at a visit from Abkhazia to Ankara for talks, Özügergin noted: “It is natural to pay attention to this case due to Turkey’s (geographical and political) position and Abkhazian origin population. Our main aim is to contribute to a permanent peaceful solution for the problem."

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=is-turkey-to-recognize-break-away-abkhazia-2009-09-10

[Alexandros]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict




Russia says no deals on north Cyprus recognition

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE 02.OCT.09

Russia will not enter a deal implying the recognition of occupied northern Cyprus in exchange for Turkey's recognition of Abkhazia says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“We are not inclined to enter any deals following ‘scratch my back and I'll scratch yours’ logic. These are two absolutely different stories. These are different situations from the historical, moral and humanitarian points of view. Any bargaining is out of the question here,” Sergey Lavrov said.

“Each situation should be considered in its historical context,” he added.

Link

[Haykakan]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Russia says no deals on north Cyprus recognition

FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE 02.OCT.09

Russia will not enter a deal implying the recognition of occupied northern Cyprus in exchange for Turkey's recognition of Abkhazia says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“We are not inclined to enter any deals following ‘scratch my back and I'll scratch yours’ logic. These are two absolutely different stories. These are different situations from the historical, moral and humanitarian points of view. Any bargaining is out of the question here,” Sergey Lavrov said.

“Each situation should be considered in its historical context,” he added.

Link

Man it is nice to have power so you can say these things. It is clear whose the boss in the turckish-russian relationship.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Georgia against Kars Treaty


Georgian Labour party members call Turkey to terminate anti-Georgian activities, Chairman of Georgian Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili stated at the October 6 press conference.

According to him, Turkey pursues anti-Georgian policy, particularly it offers Russia to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in return for Moscow’s recognition of Northern Cyprus.

“While Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is fabling another lie, neighboring Turkey officially joins international anti-Georgian front. It is clear that the predatory instinct rose in Turkish ruling elite. Obviously, Turkey is not sated with Kars Treaty signed by Ataturk and Lenin implying that most part of Georgian historical lands became the territory of Turkey. It resulted in Turkey not supporting Georgia in the UN General Assembly when the issue of Georgian territorial integrity was discussed. In addition, in Turkish textbooks maps Adjara is a part of Turkey and Georgian President is either silent or lays wreath on Ataturk’s grave,” Natelashvili concluded.

http://news.am/en/news/5942.html

[Army]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Natelashvili is gay. His party is called 'Labor Party' however they are far from being socialists. Ankara always said that she supports the unity of Georgia. and Adjara's safety is guaranteed by Turkey according to Kars Treaty. If Turkey was really aggressive against Georgia, she would invade Adjara when Georgia attacked to that region before her failed assault to Osetia.

Anyway, it was really funny to see all those Russian-lovers Georgians protesting the Russian strike. In Soviet era, those guys living in Turkey and other countries were hard core Russia supporters; now they are Georgian nationalists.. suckers. What is that guy trying to do by calling Turkey as an enemy.. Russia, enemy. Turkey, enemy like. USA, sold Georgia out. Armenia, never mention. West, not trustable.. Goergia needs good relationshipss. Idiots.

[Federate]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

Peruvian opposition urges recognition of S.Ossetia, Abkhazia


Peru's opposition party has submitted a proposal to the Peruvian Congress to recognize the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent, the party leader has said.

Ollanta Humala told RIA Novosti on Wednesday that his Peruvian Nationalist Party, the country's second largest political group, submitted the proposal last week. It is currently holding talks with various political forces and parliamentary blocs to win their support.

"Peru is one of the countries that have officially recognized Kosovo as independent, and we believe Abkhazia and South Ossetia also deserve official recognition as two new republics," Humala said.

He said he could see no obstacles to the government's recognition of the republics.

"Now that it has recognized Kosovo [on February 25, 2008], it will not have weighty arguments against the recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," Humala said.

Humala enjoys political popularity in Peru for his nationalist, anti-imperialist and anti-American ideas. He garnered 44.56% of the votes in the presidential polls in 2006.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have so far been recognized by Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Though the two asked Belarus to recognize their independence last year, Minsk has so far refused to join its neighbor, Russia in recognizing the republics.

Moscow recognized the two republics shortly after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008 that began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control.

MOSCOW, November 19 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/world/20091119/156903771.html

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Teenage Georgian pawns in South Ossetia may be swapped

Four Georgian teenagers caught at the South Ossetian border with explosives and grenades have made it to the center of a growing international row, and now could be exchanged in return for South Ossetian detainees.

If an agreement is not made, the teenagers could be held for a further two months.

Tbilisi, however, is demanding the immediate release of the youngsters, saying children must not be used as political pawns.

When the teens were detained, they showed the South Ossetian police where they had hidden their bag, in which, next to loaves of bread and sausages, was something more sinister: trotil and ammonal blocks, Bickford fuse and offensive hand grenades with separated detonators.

The boys, aged between 14 and 17, have been held since November 4 by South Ossetia.

http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-11-20/georgian-teens-ossetia-detained.html

[Armanen]

Re: Georgian-South Ossetian conflict

I hope to see Peru, Ecuador, and Belarus join the ranks of those already recognizing Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence.