A soldier keeps guard at peacekeepers' post in the conflict area of Georgia and Abkhazia.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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Abkhazia Alludes to Kosovo
The scheduled rotation of collective peacekeeping forces came to the end in Georgia’s-Abkhazia’s conflict area yesterday, December 10, 2007. That rather trifle event triggered in Georgia the agitation of such extent that sufficed for calling Security Council for an extraordinary meeting and alleging that Russia was gearing itself for a war against Georgia.
The scheduled rotation of Russia’s peacekeepers lasted for nearly a month. Some 600 troopers of the motor rifle battalion, engineer combat company and separate mortar battery were replaced by the equal number of peacekeepers from similar units. Georgia, however, claims it wasn’t rotation but rather reinforcement of military contingent in the area.
In an effort to confront the potential danger, Georgia’s Acting President Nino Burjanadze chaired yesterday an extraordinary meeting of Security Council. According to Burjanadze, Russia is sending additional troops to Georgia to get advantage of elections and destabilize the region. To justify the moves of Moscow, Abkhazia’s president even declared the state of emergency in its breakaway republic, the acting president pointed out.
But the alleged reinforcement of contingent apparently agitates Georgia not only because of presidential elections but rather because of recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Exactly that issue was the actual highlight of Georgia’s Security Council. Although indirectly, nearly all participants made clear that Russia is militarizing Abkhazia to ensure military support to the region once the Kosovo precedent is finally created and the CIS recognizes Abkhazia’s independence.
Meanwhile, in Tbilisi they say they have prepared counteractions should Russia attempt to refer to the Kosovo precedent. No details have been given for record, but the matter at stake is probably the so-called ultimatum to the Kremlin. Georgia may threaten by backing up the separatists in North Caucasus, as its border with them is really long. Suffice it to say that the toughest stage of Chechnya’s conflict ended no sooner than official Tbilisi stepped in and took under control the Pankiss Gorge that borders on Chechnya.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 11, 2007
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