NATO angered by Russian treaty with South Ossetia

A new treaty between Russia and South Ossetia merges a portion of the South Ossetian armed forces with those of Russia and also increases the economic integration of the two countries 

Coat of Arms of  South Ossetia

South Ossetia was originally an autonomous part of the Georgian Soviet Republic. However, at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 it declared itself independent, angering newly independent Georgia which considers both it and another independent area Abkhazia as part of its sovereign territory. Georgia has continually attempted to enforce its rule and occupy South Ossetia.

In 2008 an attack on South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers in the area resulted in a disastrous war for Georgia. Russia recognized South Osssetia and Abkhazia both as independent states after the war. Only Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru of UN members recognize the independence of South Ossetia. Nauru may have done so because of Russian foreign aid but Nauru denies this.

NATO claims the treaty violates international law but then it insists every treaty entered into by South Ossetia with anyone is against international law since it regards South Ossetia as part of Georgia. The signing of this treaty follows the signing of a similar treaty with Abkhazia last year. Both countries are subsidized by Russia. As well.as further integrating the South Ossetian economy with that of Russia, it will make it easier for South Ossetians to get Russian citizenship and will also raise salaries for South Ossetian civil servants and pensions within the country.

Not only NATO but also the US was angered by the agreement. Jen Psaki, US State Department spokesperson said: "The regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are integral parts of Georgia and we continue to support Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,"

The treaty was signed after talks between Russian president Vladiimir  Putin and South Ossetian president Leonid Tibilov in Moscow on March 18. The treaty includes a pledge of collective security. Putin said the treaty improved the two countries' legal system and in coordination of economic development. Tibilov said: “We know the Russian Federation is the only guarantor for our people and for our republic.” South Ossetia has supported Russia in the annexation of the Crimea. There seems almost zero possibility of either Abkhazia or South Ossetia being reintegrated back into Georgia.

Sources:

http://news.yahoo.com/putin-signs-treaty-integrating-south-ossetia-russia-134209512.html

http://news.yahoo.com/russian-treaty-south-ossetia-breaks-international-law-nato-162225556.html

http://rt.com/politics/241929-russia-ossetia-treaty-alliance/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauru

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauru

Russia-Georgia relations improving

Russia and Georgia have already repaired relations to some extent. The two countries are now prepared for a visa-free relationship between the two countries. Russia would like to go further and restore full diplomatic relations.

Anyone visiting Georgia from Russia for less than 90 days will be able to enter without a visa. Aleksandr Lukashevich of the Russian Foreign Ministry said:"We also suggest restoring diplomatic ties between our countries,"

However, President Saakashvili of Georgia said that diplomatic relations could be repaired only when Russia withdrew recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is quite unlikely to happen.

In August 2008 Georgia tried to reassert control over South Ossetia and Russia came to the defence of the enclave. Subsequently Russia recognised both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries even though few other countries have followed suit. Switzerland represents Georgian interests in Russia at present. In spite of the lack of full diplomatic relations it would seem that there is some thawing of the tension between Georgia and Russia. No doubt commercial interests will cheer the thaw and it will also will encourage more tourist visits between the two countries. For more see this article.

Georgia: Halt Russian Military Buildup

This is from the International News (Pakistan). It seems that Russia is going to expand its presence in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia whether Georgia and the west like it or not. It will be interesting to see if Obama confronts Russia over this or keeps quiet in order to improve relationships on other issues. It would seem that Russia is co-operating with the US insofar as allowing US supplies to go through Russia on route to Afghanistan.

Halt military buildup: Georgia

Wednesday, March 04, 2009
TBILISI: Georgia’s defence minister appealed to the West to halt what he said was a continuing Russian military build-up in two breakaway Georgian regions, adding that a fresh Russian attack ‘cannot be ruled out’.

The Kremlin recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states in the wake of last year’s five-day war between Russia and Georgia, when Moscow smashed a Georgian assault on South Ossetia.

Defence Minister David Sikharulidze told Reuters in an interview late on Monday that Russia’s war aim had been ‘regime change’, but it had failed. Moscow’s continued military build-up in the absence of international monitoring meant the situation ‘remains fragile’, he said.

The minister said Tbilisi had observed activity at the site of a proposed Russian naval base in the breakaway Black Sea territory of Abkhazia and understood that a Soviet-era military base near the Abkhaz resort town of Gudauta was ‘fully operational’ and under Russian control. Moscow is keen to re-establish its military influence in strategic former Soviet territories but the EU and the US have said any new Russian bases in the breakaway regions would violate a ceasefire accord which ended last year’s war.

‘Both the European Union and United States made their position very clear with regard to these activities. If this political pressure continues, it would play an important role in ... stopping the Russians doing what they are doing,’ Sikharulidze told Reuters.

‘The security environment is a concern. This represents a danger not only for Georgia but for the entire region.’

Asked later if new conflict was possible, he replied:

‘Our mission is to be ready to resist if the Russians decide to attack Georgia, major cities, vital links of communications again. Our understanding is that this cannot be ruled out.’

Russia defies US on new Abkhaz, S. Ossetia bases.

The article is from UPI but at this site.
I wonder if Obama will make any statement on this matter. Obama supports the membership of Georgia and the Ukraine in NATO a position sure to cause a bad reaction in Russia. On the missiled defence system he seems to be not some gung ho in spite of what Poland has had to say.

Russia defies U.S. on new Abkhaz, S. Ossetia bases
By MARTIN SIEFF
Published: Nov. 7, 2008 at 6:06 PMWASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Russia is stepping up its presence in the two Georgian secessionist provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia following its successful mini-war against Georgia in August.RIA Novosti reported Friday that the Russian army would activate two new military bases, one in South Ossetia and the other in Abkhazia, next year.RIA Novosti cited a Russian Defense Ministry official in Moscow as saying the Abkhaz base would be located in Gudauta, in the west of the province, and the South Ossetian one would be located in Tskhinvali, the provincial capital. The report said each base would house 3,700 Russian troops.The Russian move looks certain to infuriate the U.S. government, especially coming after the presidential election Tuesday that reduced incumbent George W. Bush to lame-duck status, while it will be more than two months before the 44th president, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., takes the oath of office.Russia already has recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate republics following its successful mini-war against Georgia from Aug. 8-12, during which the Russian army brushed aside the U.S.-trained and -equipped Georgian regular army and occupied a third of the remote former Soviet republic in the Caucasus in only five days.

Crimea calls for recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as Enclaves

This is from antiwar.com.
Crimea itself may be seeking more autonomy from the Ukraine and hoping to ally itself with Russia. The U.S. is getting itself in a more and more confrontational position vis-a-vis Russia. The idea that Russia will ever allow either of the two enclaves to become part of Georgia again is pure fantasy. The fact is that the majority in each region do not want to be part of Georgia and Russia will back up that majority with force if Georgia tries again to retake them by military means.


Crimea Calls for Recognition of South Ossetia, Abkhazia as Enclaves Sign Russia Defense Deal
Posted September 17, 2008
The Crimean Parliament voted today 79-8 to press the Ukrainian government to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It seems highly unlikely that the Ukrainian government will act on the call given the collapse of its coalition government and the strongly anti-Russian sentiment of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
The move would also have serious ramifications within the Crimea, which enjoys a large measure of independence already and might be seen to move in the direction of separation in light of its large Russian population and the Ukrainian government’s stated desire to expel the Russian Navy from a base rented in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.
And even though the vote is non-binding it does add to the credibility of the independence of the enclaves, which formally separated themselves from Georgia after the brief Georgia-Russia war in August. Russia is the only power in the region to recognize the move, and the United States has promised to use its status as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to ensure that the enclaves are forever seen as Georgian provinces in the eyes of the world.
The status of the enclaves is a major bone of contention in Russia’s increasingly tense relationship with the West. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has vowed to return the regions to Georgian control. This seems increasingly unlikely however, as today Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed formal treaties with both enclaves promising to defend them from any future attack.
NATO has supported Georgia’s position on the lost territories, and publicly denounced a EU-brokered peace deal which would allow Russia to keep troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as a hedge against future Georgian attacks. They also are moving cautiously toward offering Georgia membership, though questions about President Saakashvili’s penchant for anti-opposition crackdowns has delayed any formal offer to join. Russia has criticized NATO for its “Cold War-era reflexes“.

The blowback from Kosovo

This is from antiwar.com

The U.S. recognised Kosovo when it unilaterally declared independence in the absence of any agreement with Serbia. Serbia always claimed that Kosovo was a part of its sovereign territory. This did not matter as the U.S. was able to get many countries to go along and recognise the newly minted state. At the time Russia warned that the recognition of Kosovo's independence without the agreement of Serbia would change Russia's policy with respect to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is the culmination of that change. Bush continually stresses that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are territories within Georgia in effect part of sovereign Georgia. In the light of Kosovo this is complete hypocrisy. While Serbia with Russian support complained about U.S. recognition of Kosovo the U.S. simply ignored Russia. Now Russia will return the favor with respect to South Ossetia and Abkazia. Of course most of the western media will treat the two cases quite differently and complain of Russian aggression.

Russian Parliament Unanimously Backs Independence for Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Posted August 25, 2008
In a move many see as retaliation for the February recognition of independence for Kosovo, both houses of Russia’s parliament voted unanimously to recognize the independence of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Though not legally binding, the vote urges Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to officially recognize them and establish full diplomatic relations.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned the vote as a continuation of “Russian aggression” and a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty. Yesterday, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili vowed to rebuild his shattered military and reclaim the enclaves. Earlier this month, the Bush Administration reiterated its commitment to Georgia’s “territorial integrity.”
Both enclaves have enjoyed varying degrees of autonomy since 1992, and tensions with the Georgian government have led to intermittent violence. This all came to a head earlier this month, when the Georgian government launched an offensive against South Ossetia, shelling its capital city of Tskhinvali. The Russian military, along with thousands of Abkhaz and Ossetian volunteers, swept into Tskhinvali, and advanced into parts of Georgia. Though a cease-fire has been declared, Russian troops remain in and around certain strategic Georgian cities.
In February, the breakaway province of Kosovo, long part of Serbia, declared independence with United States backing. At the time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the move would affect Russia’s policy toward Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s long-standing independence claims.

Gorbachev: A Path to Peace in the Caucasus

Gorbachev naturally analyses the situation from a primarily pro-Russian point of view. However, his remarks make much sense to me. In particular he emphasizes the provocative nature of Georgia's military attempt to simply take back South Ossetia. Gorbachev is also probalby correct that Georgia thought it could get away with this because it had the support of the U.S. and NATO. After all Israel has helped arm and train the Georgian army and so has the United States. The United States also supported Georgia's bid to join NATO. The U.S. simply dismisses Russian objections to anything that the U.S. wants to do. A prime example is the Missile Defence system in Eastern Europe. There is no doubt that the Cold War is warming up again. Cheney will be happy.

A Path to Peace in the CaucasusBy Mikhail Gorbachev12/08/08 "Washington Post -- - MOSCOW -- The past week's events in South Ossetia are bound to shock and pain anyone. Already, thousands of people have died, tens of thousands have been turned into refugees, and towns and villages lie in ruins. Nothing can justify this loss of life and destruction. It is a warning to all.The roots of this tragedy lie in the decision of Georgia's separatist leaders in 1991 to abolish South Ossetian autonomy. This turned out to be a time bomb for Georgia's territorial integrity. Each time successive Georgian leaders tried to impose their will by force -- both in South Ossetia and in Abkhazia, where the issues of autonomy are similar -- it only made the situation worse. New wounds aggravated old injuries.Nevertheless, it was still possible to find a political solution. For some time, relative calm was maintained in South Ossetia. The peacekeeping force composed of Russians, Georgians and Ossetians fulfilled its mission, and ordinary Ossetians and Georgians, who live close to each other, found at least some common ground.Through all these years, Russia has continued to recognize Georgia's territorial integrity. Clearly, the only way to solve the South Ossetian problem on that basis is through peaceful means. Indeed, in a civilized world, there is no other way.The Georgian leadership flouted this key principle.What happened on the night of Aug. 7 is beyond comprehension. The Georgian military attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali with multiple rocket launchers designed to devastate large areas. Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against "small, defenseless Georgia" is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity.Mounting a military assault against innocents was a reckless decision whose tragic consequences, for thousands of people of different nationalities, are now clear. The Georgian leadership could do this only with the perceived support and encouragement of a much more powerful force. Georgian armed forces were trained by hundreds of U.S. instructors, and its sophisticated military equipment was bought in a number of countries. This, coupled with the promise of NATO membership, emboldened Georgian leaders into thinking that they could get away with a "blitzkrieg" in South Ossetia.In other words, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was expecting unconditional support from the West, and the West had given him reason to think he would have it. Now that the Georgian military assault has been routed, both the Georgian government and its supporters should rethink their position.Hostilities must cease as soon as possible, and urgent steps must be taken to help the victims -- the humanitarian catastrophe, regretfully, received very little coverage in Western media this weekend -- and to rebuild the devastated towns and villages. It is equally important to start thinking about ways to solve the underlying problem, which is among the most painful and challenging issues in the Caucasus -- a region that should be approached with the greatest care.When the problems of South Ossetia and Abkhazia first flared up, I proposed that they be settled through a federation that would grant broad autonomy to the two republics. This idea was dismissed, particularly by the Georgians. Attitudes gradually shifted, but after last week, it will be much more difficult to strike a deal even on such a basis.Old grievances are a heavy burden. Healing is a long process that requires patience and dialogue, with non-use of force an indispensable precondition. It took decades to bring to an end similar conflicts in Europe and elsewhere, and other long-standing issues are still smoldering. In addition to patience, this situation requires wisdom.Small nations of the Caucasus do have a history of living together. It has been demonstrated that a lasting peace is possible, that tolerance and cooperation can create conditions for normal life and development. Nothing is more important than that.The region's political leaders need to realize this. Instead of flexing military muscle, they should devote their efforts to building the groundwork for durable peace.Over the past few days, some Western nations have taken positions, particularly in the U.N. Security Council, that have been far from balanced. As a result, the Security Council was not able to act effectively from the very start of this conflict. By declaring the Caucasus, a region that is thousands of miles from the American continent, a sphere of its "national interest," the United States made a serious blunder. Of course, peace in the Caucasus is in everyone's interest. But it is simply common sense to recognize that Russia is rooted there by common geography and centuries of history. Russia is not seeking territorial expansion, but it has legitimate interests in this region.The international community's long-term aim could be to create a sub-regional system of security and cooperation that would make any provocation, and the very possibility of crises such as this one, impossible. Building this type of system would be challenging and could only be accomplished with the cooperation of the region's countries themselves. Nations outside the region could perhaps help, too -- but only if they take a fair and objective stance. A lesson from recent events is that geopolitical games are dangerous anywhere, not just in the Caucasus.The writer was the last president of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and is president of the Gorbachev Foundation, a Moscow think tank. A version of this article, in Russian, will be published in the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper tomorrow.© 2008 The Washington Post Company

U.S.: Russia wants regime change in Georgia.

Hmmm..Seems to me that wanting regime change is a familiar phrase. The U.S. wanted regime change half way around the world in Iraq and also in Afghanistan and helped promote regime changes in other countries on Russia's doorstep such as the Ukraine or yes even Georgia! Zalmay Khalilzad the US ambassador to the UN is a potential president of Afghanistan to replace the out of favor (in the US) Karzai. He was a promoter of the Project for a New American Century so he should know all about regime change and imperialism.
Probably Russian aims are as follows:
i) to show Georgia that it cannot just solve the Abkazia and South Ossetia problem by military might. I find it surprising that Georgia thought that it could simply move in and take back South Ossetia.
ii) to ensure that Abakazia and South Ossetia remain at least autonomous and will not be further threatened by Georgian central government militarily.
iii) to send a message to the United States that Russia cannot be pushed around any more and that NATO should back off considering Georgia as a member.

Perhaps Khalilzad is correct. Certainly Russia would be happier if Georgia had a more pro-Russian leader but Russia will probably be content for now if Georgia simply accepts the status quo in Abkazia and South Ossetia.


ReutersU.S. suggests Russia wants "regime change" in Georgia08.10.08, 4:48 PM ET
Russian Federation - (Adds comments from Russian envoy, meeting on resolution)
By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The United States suggested on Sunday that Russia was interested in "regime change" in Georgia after Moscow rejected Tbilisi's offer of a cease-fire in the separatist enclave of South Ossetia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili "must go," the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, told the Security Council.
Khalilzad then looked straight at Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and asked if Moscow was looking for "regime change."
"Is the goal of the Russian Federation to change the leadership of Georgia?" he said.
Churkin did not directly address the question but said there are leaders who "become an obstacle."
"Sometimes those leaders need to contemplate how useful they have become to their people," he told reporters later.
"Regime change is purely an American invention," he said. "We're all for democracy in Georgia."
Russian troops took the capital of South Ossetia earlier after a three-day battle as Georgian forces retreated and the Tbilisi government offered a cease-fire and talks.
In Moscow, Lavrov said the departure of Saakashvili, who was re-elected by popular vote early this year, was not a must to solve the crisis but that Russia no longer saw him as a partner.
Khalilzad told reporters the telephone call between Rice and Lavrov was "disturbing," adding that the days of overthrowing European governments by force were over.
Churkin insisted Russia was not out to take over South Ossetia. "Let's state clearly that we are ready to put an end to the war, that we will withdraw from South Ossetia, that we will sign an agreement on non-use of force," he said.
The U.S. envoy said he would introduce a U.N. resolution condemning Moscow, even though Russia is a permanent council member with the power to veto it. He was meeting later with British, French diplomats and other allies on the council.
The council has been unable to take any action in four emergency meetings on the crisis in as many days due, though the heated exchanges have been reminiscent of the Cold War.
'CAMPAIGN OF TERROR'
Georgian envoy Irakli Alasania told the Security Council that Churkin's comments were all "Soviet propaganda" and said Russia intended to repeat what it did in Chechnya.
Moscow plans to "erase Georgian statehood and exterminate the Georgian people," he said. Churkin in turn accused the Georgians of "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing".
Khalilzad said Russia was waging "terror" in Georgia.
"We must condemn Russia's military assault on the sovereign state of Georgia ... including the targeting of civilians and the campaign of terror against the Georgian population," he said.
Khalilzad also accused Russia of preventing the withdrawal of Georgian forces from South Ossetia to prolong the conflict and prevent Georgia from laying down its arms.
"Since Russia is impeding Georgian forces from withdrawing, rejecting a cease-fire and continuing to carry out military attacks against civilian centers, its claims of a humanitarian purpose clearly are not credible," Khalilzad said.
Churkin was furious that Khalilzad used the word "terror".
"This statement, ambassador, is completely unacceptable, particularly from the lips of the permanent representative of a country whose actions we are aware of, including with regard to the civilian populations in Iraq and Afghanistan and Serbia," Churkin told the council. (Editing by Philip Barbara) Copyright 2008 Reuters,

Georgia: US training gives Georgia military advantage

This is from the Telegraph.
While the U.S. training and equipment may give the Georgians an advantage, Georgia is still a pygmy facing a Goliath. Georgia no doubt hoped that taking back the capital of South Ossetia would strengthen its hand in any peace talks. However the result has been not only considerable losses to the Ossetians but also bombing of Georgian military bases inside Georgia proper and also it seems other destruction. The rockets coming from mobile vehicles are not accurate at all.
Now apparently the Russians have a firm hold on South Ossetia and the Georgians have withdrawn. They have nothing for their efforts except perhaps to exacerbate already tense relations between the U.S. and Russia. Russia is not likely to give much in the peace talks. It will insist that Goergia leave South Ossetia and Abkazia alone.

Georgia: US training gives Georgia military advantage
The problem the Russians face in South Ossetia is that their peacekeepers have had to make the transition overnight to what is, in effect, a war-fighting force.

By Allan Mallinson, Defence Historian Last Updated: 12:11AM BST 10 Aug 2008

The Russians lack of enough force to deploy decisively from the outset has forced them to over-rely on artillery especially the multi-barrelled rocket launcher Photo: REUTERS
While they are not operating like Scandinavian peace forces in light blue berets, the transition will not have been smooth.
Ironically, as former peacekeepers, they may be inflicting far more civilian casualties than would a force that had been training and planning for combat operations.
Not least, this is because they did not have enough force to deploy overwhelmingly and therefore decisively from the outset – which might have overawed the Georgians without a shot.
This has forced them to over-rely on artillery, one of the least discriminating weapons systems, especially the multi-barrelled rocket launcher.
Nor has the speed with which the fighting developed helped the civilian population either to evacuate the combat zones, or take effective cover.
The Russians will no doubt justify their use of air power beyond Ossetia as defensive action in depth and draw comparisons with the United Nations' use of ground-attack aircraft in Bosnia during the peacekeeping mandate; but it will also be in some measure an attempt to overwhelm the Georgians psychologically, and with the only means to hand.
The reinforcements being sent by Moscow will be special forces – more subtle, more highly trained than the troops already on the ground. However sinister their deployment sounds, they should be welcomed for their professionalism. Despite the money pumped into the army by Vladimir Putin, the quality of its regular officers is a problem. Despite South Ossetia's semi-autonomous status, the Georgian army is operating on essentially interior lines of communication, while the Russians are deployed at the end of a very long line indeed. On paper, Georgian forces number some 18,000, but there are probably fewer than 12,000 effective combat troops, which is why the contingent in Iraq is being recalled.
The Georgians, though outnumbered, in the shorter term have several advantages. They are not badly equipped. The former Soviet T72, for example, their main battle tank, is a reasonable match for the Russians' T90. The army has been American-trained, and increasingly American-equipped, for the past 10 years, and strongly focused on Nato admission: there will be some capable commanders and staff officers, therefore.
It is a strange irony to note that their troops have seen action, against Chechen rebels, but fighting alongside the Russians.

Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace

This is from RIA Novosti (Russia)
This is more or less an official Russian viewpoint on the conflict or at least a state sanctioned report. The report of Georgian peacekeepers shooting Russian peacekeepers is interesting for it has never been mentioned in any western media reports I have seen. According to another RIA Novosti report the South Ossetian capital has been taken back from Georgia forces who had occupied it. This situation would have been been even more serious if Georgia was a member of NATO. Of course the U.S. is a big ally of Georgia. Georgia has sent troops to aid the U.S. in Iraq. It now wants them to be flown back home by the U.S. Georgia probably hoped to bolster its position prior to peace talks which had already been scheduled before Georgia mounted this offensive. The attack has no doubted backfired and created a very dangerous volatile situation.


Medvedev tells Bush Russia aims to force Georgia to accept peace
09/ 08/ 2008

MOSCOW, August 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian president told his U.S. counterpart on Saturday that Russia's ongoing military operation in Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia is aimed at forcing Georgia to accept peace.
Bush's phone conversation with Dmitry Medvedev came after the U.S. leader called on Russia to stop bombing targets in Georgia, and voiced concern over the escalating violence.
Medvedev was quoted by the Kremlin as telling Bush: "Acting within our peacekeeping mission, and in line with the mandate issued by the international community, Russia is engaged in the task of forcing the Georgian side to accept peace, while defending the lives and property of its citizens, as is required under the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation, and the legal standards of any civilized country.
Georgia, the main U.S. ally in the Caucasus Region, launched a major ground and air offensive to seize control of South Ossetia on Friday, prompting Russia to send in tanks and hundreds of troops. Georgia imposed martial law on Saturday after Russian warplanes began bombarding military bases.
Russia says 12 of its servicemen have been killed in the violence, and 2,000 civilians in South Ossetia have lost their lives. Around 30,000 refugees have flooded across the border into Russia to escape the violence since Friday morning.
A senior Russian diplomat said on Saturday that the country may ask the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights to investigate war crimes committed by Georgia.
"I do not rule out that the Hague and Strasbourg courts and institutions in other cities will be involved in investigating these crimes, and this inhuman drama that has been played out," Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told news agencies in an interview broadcast on the Vesti-24 TV channel.
Russian peacekeepers "were killed by their own [Georgian] partners in the peacekeeping forces," he said.
"There is a Russian battalion, an Ossetian battalion, and a Georgian battalion... and all of a sudden the Georgians, Georgian peacekeepers, begin shooting their Russian colleagues. This is of course a war crime," Karasin said.
The ongoing conflict is the most severe since South Ossetia fought its way to independence from Georgia in 1992. The majority of the local population have Russian citizenship.
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said earlier that Russian combat aircraft had bombed several Georgian military bases, one near the capital Tbilisi, as well as the Black Sea port city of Poti.
Georgian media also reported airstrikes on the city of Gori, and said several civilians had been killed.
However, Russian Deputy Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn denied that warplanes had struck non-military targets.
"We are not fighting peaceful towns, and are not conducting military strikes against civilians. We are only seeking to ensure peace," he said.
Georgia says it has shot down a total of 10 Russian combat aircraft, while Russia says it has lost two planes.
The Russian government has warned that a humanitarian disaster is developing as South Ossetians, many of them injured, flee across the border into Russia.

Georgian jets and troops pound separatists

This is from thenational(Dubai)

I have seen other sources that put the casualties in the South Ossetian capital as much higher than this article reports. The separatist side had already declared a ceasefire and talks were to take place. It seems that instead Georgia decided to retake the capital first. Perhaps it was a move to put Georgia in a more powerful bargaining position as Saakashvilli is now calling for a ceasefire and negotiations. It is doubtful that Russia will have any part of this until it has re-establish at least control of the capital for the separatists.
Not only South Ossetia is a problem for Georgia but so is Abazia. Both breakaway provinces have pointed to Kosovo as a paradigm case of separation without agreement of the state (Serbia) from which Kosovo separated. Of course this time you have an ally of the US with troops in Iraq and trying to hard to join NATO. Georgia already receives lots of military aid from the U.S. This has the makings of a new cold war that might not be so cold.


Georgian jets and troops pound separatists
Last Updated: August 08. 2008 6:45PM UAE / August 8. 2008 2:45PM GMT

MEGVREKISI, Georgia // Fighting raged in and around the capital of Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia region today as Georgian troops, backed by warplanes, pounded separatist forces in a bid to retake control of the territory.Georgia said three Russian jets had entered Georgian airspace and dropped bombs on two places just south of the territory, which has been outside central government control since the 1990s. There was no immediate comment from Moscow.The pro-western Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said his forces had “freed” the greater part of Tskhinvali, capital of the region, and accused Russia of conducting a “large-scale” operation against Georgia. He ordered a full-scale mobilisation of military reservists.
The Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would respond to aggressive Georgian action.“The Georgian leadership has resorted to very aggressive actions in South Ossetia, in fact it started warfare using heavy armour and artillery,” Mr Putin said in Beijing, where he is on a visit.“There are casualties, including among Russian peacekeepers,” he added, speaking at a meeting with the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. “This is very sad and this will incur a response.” He did not give details.
Russian news agency Interfax said Georgian troops had entered Tskhinvali after intense battles overnight.The Georgian interior ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said Georgian forces had also fought two convoys of “mercenaries” that had entered South Ossetia from Russia, heading for Tskhinvali.The government and separatists envoys had been due to meet in Tskhinvali for Russian-mediated peace talks on Friday. Many houses were ablaze.
Russian peacekeepers said three of their men had been wounded and their headquarters damaged during shelling of the town, Interfax news agency reported.The Georgian prime minister Lado Gurgenidze said the military operation would continue until a “durable peace” had been reached.Russia, main backer of the separatists, accused Georgia of treachery and urged the world community to avert “massive bloodshed.”
The Kremlin said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was holding consultations with aides on “restoring peace in South Ossetia and defending the local civilian population within the peacekeeping mandate we have”.Russian news agencies said he later summoned his top security advisers.At an emergency session of the United Nations on Thursday night, Russia failed to push through a statement that would have called on both sides to stop fighting immediately.
Council diplomats said a phrase calling on all sides to “renounce the use of force” had been unacceptable to the Georgians, backed by the United States and the Europeans.The crisis has fuelled fears of full-blown war in the region, which is emerging as a vital energy transit route and where Russia and the West are vying for influence.Georgia said the operation, launched after a week of clashes between separatists and the troops in which nearly 20 people were killed, was aimed at ending South Ossetia’s effective independence, won in a 1991-92 war.
“We are forced to restore constitutional order in the whole region,” the commander of Georgian peacekeepers in South Ossetia, Mamuka Kurashvili, told Georgian television.In Tskhinvali, thousands of people took refuge from the shelling in cellars.A Vesti-24 correspondent in Tskhinvali, Andrei Chistyakov, said at least 15 civilians had been killed in the town. “These are the people whose bodies were seen in their yards and in the streets,” he said by telephone.
Mr Saakashvili, who wants to take his small Caucasus nation into Nato, has made it a priority to win back control of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another rebel region on the Black Sea.The issue has bedevilled Georgia’s relations with Russia, which is angered by Tbilisi’s moves towards the Western fold and its pursuit of Nato membership.On Thursday, Mr Saakashvili announced a unilateral truce and gave a go-ahead for peace talks. But just few hours later Tbilisi accused separatists of shelling Georgian-populated villages and set troops in motion.
Georgian National Security Council secretary Kakha Lomaia told Reuters that several Soviet-designed Su-25 planes took part in a strike on the village of Tkverneti.“These planes can be used again if the need arises to strike foreign mercenaries arriving in the region,” he said. “But they will not be used in Tskhinvali.”*Reuters

Georgia fighting undermines markets (Russian)

This is from Reuters.
Imagine what would happen if Georgia were already part of NATO. If that were the case then other world markets might be down on this news as well. Not too much coverage of this in the West. Everyone is busy with the opening of the Olympics in China!

Georgia fighting undermines markets
Fri Aug 8, 2008 6:35am EDTBy Peter AppsLONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Heavy fighting between Georgia and separatists -- and Russian threats of a "response" -- undermined Russian assets and broader emerging markets on Friday, with a stronger dollar also hitting currencies.Georgian troops and warplanes pounded separatist forces around the capital of its breakaway South Ossetia region, and Georgia accused Russian jets of bombing its territory.Benchmark emerging equities were down 0.91 percent by 1000 GMT, with Russian stocks among the greatest losers, down 2.89 percent -- a move also attributed in part to a weaker oil price and broader global equity sell-off."The military conflict is obviously adding to negative sentiment, not just for Russia but for emerging markets in general," said emerging market strategist Nigel Rendell at Royal Bank of Canada. "If it is still continuing after the weekend I think we will see further weakness."Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Georgian leadership had resorted to "very aggressive actions", saying some Russian peacekeepers were among the casualties and that would "incur a response".The rouble weakened around 20 kopecks against the basket of 0.55 dollar and 0.45 euros, although analysts said this was in part due to a sharp retreat in the euro after dovish European Central bank comments on Thursday.But investor sentiment in Russia is already dented by sharp falls in oil and commodity prices during July as well as worries over a battle for control of oil giant BP's local joint-venture and an attack by Putin on coalminer Mechel. So a clash with the West over Georgia is seen as bad news.Russian stocks are down 22 percent this year."There is now a very serious risk of mass equity sales on the Russian market," said Sobinbank head of market analysis Alexander Razauvaev, advising against short-term positions in an increasingly volatile market. The cost of insuring Russian debt in the credit default swaps market increased slightly to 106 basis points from Thursday's 102.Georgia has little in the way of traded international instruments except for its $500 million Eurobond launched earlier this year, which is relatively illiquid. Ratings agency Fitch warned on Thursday before overnight fighting that an escalation to all out conflict could hurt its creditworthiness.
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