EU Monitors Infiltrated into Buffer Zone
// But Russian military allegedly tried to prevent them from doing it
The realization of the EU-Russian agreements on Georgia has been impeded. On the first day of its work the EU monitoring mission, who were deployed at the Abkhaz and South Ossetian borders in accordance with the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, encountered problems posed by Russia’s military. More to the point, Moscow and Brussels haven’t managed to reach agreement on whether monitors should be deployed in both republics. According to the information of Kommersant, the fulfillment of another key peace plan provision – holding a meeting in Geneva on the situation in the Caucasus – is also questionable.
Mission possible
The start of the European monitors’ work in Georgia, whose deployment became one of the main points of the EU-Russian agreements, was presented with great pomp. High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana arrived in Tbilisi to mark the event. Together with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, he announced a successful start of the mission’s work. “This has been the fastest deployment that the EU has ever undertaken. EU Member States made a tremendous effort for you to be here in this short period of time. I am optimistic that all the parties will comply, as we have done, to the terms of the agreement. The objective of this mission is to allow Russian forces to withdraw,” Javier Solana said. He also reminded that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promised to pull out Russian troops from Georgia within ten days after the deployment of EU monitors – before October 10.
“We will not be happy until the last Russian soldier gets out of my country,” Mikhail Saakashvili echoed his European guest. “Russia’s troops must return where they were. To the other side of the Roki tunnel and the other bank of the Psou River, from where they entered. Georgia is firm in its principles and will not compromise.” The Georgian President added that they have scheduled a conference of donors in Tbilisi on October 20, with European leaders, “who will certainly donate money to restore Georgia’s economy”, participating.
The staff of the EU mission will total some 300 people. German diplomat Hansjörg Haber will be in charge of the mission, with French Gendarmerie General Gilles Janvier assisting. The monitors’ mandate is valid during one year and can be extended if necessary. The operation’s budget is ˆ35 million. The mission’s headquarters is in Tbilisi. As a sign of special respect, the Georgian government deployed it at the Krtsanisi residence, in the center of the Georgian capital. Besides, the monitors will have offices in Zugdidi (not far from Abkhazia), Gori (near South Ossetia) and in the port town of Poti.
Hindrances in uniform
The first day of the monitors’ work was far from being smooth. In the morning the first group of monitors, accompanied by journalists, set off from Gori to the Georgian village of Karaleti, which lies four kilometers away from the South Ossetian border. But at the entrance to the village there was a Russian outpost, whose commander flatly refused to let the monitors drive further. After long telephone talks with his chiefs, the Russian officer agreed to let the monitors in their zone of responsibility, but without journalists. It need be said that the Europeans actually appeared unwilling to speak with the press. “You see, we are here to monitor, rather than make political judgments,” one of the monitors flung back at a journalist asking him a question.
The monitors in Karaleti were lucky in fact. Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told Kommersant that Russian military refused to let many monitoring groups in the buffer zones. “The situation is very strange. On September 28 Europeans first met with Russia’s military, who said everything will be all right. And the next day their representative Vitaly Manushko said that they won’t let monitors in. Obviously, Russians do not have clear-cut instructions,” Shota Utiashvili added. According to the sources of Kommersant with the Georgian Interior Ministry, “the Russian party seeks cavils to avoid pulling out its forces by October 10: they demand that the monitors’ cars should be colored white so that to be seen from afar”.
The sources of Kommersant in the Abkhaz and South Ossetian governments confessed that that there were problems with allowing the European monitors to enter towns and villages. “There were problems, but it is purely a matter of the Russian peacekeepers’ responsibility. There is the South Ossetian border in close proximity. Perhaps not everything is ready there to begin with monitoring,” Irina Gagloeva, the Chief of the South Ossetian Information and Press Committee, told Kommersant. In his turn, Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba stated, “Russian troops are not obliged to let the Europeans approach the Abkhaz border – by October 10 they are to be deployed on the territory from Poti to Senaki, occupying the entire security zone after Russia’s peacekeepers pull out.”
The sources of Kommersant with the Russian Foreign Ministry explained the trouble with the European monitors with “technical problems”. “Working on mechanisms of interaction between our peacekeepers and the Europeans is under way; it requires time and effort. Problems in such situations are inevitable,” Igor Lyakin-Frolov from the MFA Information and Press Department told Kommersant.
Disagreements are inexhaustible
However, the contradictions between Moscow and Brussels over the EU monitoring mission do not concern “technical” matters only. Speaking in Tbilisi, Javier Solana stated that EU monitors will be soon deployed in Georgia. Thus he sent a clear message that Brussels wants to send its monitoring missions to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “The European Union’s ultimate objective is sending monitors to the conflict zones proper,” a source with the EU High Representative’s executive office told Kommersant. Mikhail Saakashvili was even more determined. According to him, French President promised him to send monitors in the conflict zones and even put his signature under a corresponding document.
Nevertheless, Moscow interprets the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreements differently. “Yes, EU monitors will be deployed on the territory of Georgia. But South Ossetia and Abkhazia are independent states, and thus are not implied in this agreement provision at all,” Igor Lyakin-Frolov told Kommersant. “There will be no western monitors on our territory,” Sergey Shamba assured Kommersant. The sources of Kommersant in the government of South Ossetia stick to a similar position. They might be inspired by the fact that another UN member is going to recognize Sukhumi and Tskhinvali. Yesterday Somalia’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation Mohamed Handule stated that his country is ready to join Russia and Nicaragua and recognize these republics. In exchange Somalia expects Russia to step up military and technical cooperation.
There are other disputed provisions of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, which was signed on September 8. They primarily concern organizing debate in Geneva over security in the region planned for October 15. “We presume that this meeting will be held. But we will have to coordinate its format and level,” Igor Lyakin-Frolov said. A high-ranking official with the Russian Foreign Ministry, in charge of the relations with Georgia, told Kommersant that “discussing the matter with Europeans will start on October 2”. At the same time a high-ranking official with the Georgian government told Kommersant that the meeting won’t be held before October 19, with only experts gathering to thrash it out.
Sergey Shamba explained the reasons for the delay, “Russians put forward tough conditions: representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia must take part in the negotiations.” “Without Tskhinvali and Sukhumi discussing security in the Caucasus appears pointless,” a source of Kommersant with the Russian MFA said. However, according to the information Kommersant got from western diplomatic circles, Brussels won’t put up with Abkhazia and South Ossetia participating in the talks as independent republics. It means that the realization of the key points of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan may be jeopardized. The entire plan might fail actually.
Alexander Gabuev; Georgy Dvali, Tbilisi
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 02, 2008
|
