Georgia. An opposition rally is reflected in sunglasses of a man in downtown Tbilisi, Georgia, March 26, 2008. Opposition supporters rallied outside the headquarters of the Independent TV channel Imedi, denouncing the government's plans to take over the channel. The banner reads "I am not afraid". (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)
Photo: AP
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Georgia to Become Recognized Republic
// Russia’s government to normalize relations with Georgia
Vladimir Putin ordered to raise the blockade of Georgia
Yesterday Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered that the government lift all Georgia-related restrictions imposed by Russia 2006. According to Moscow’s plan, it should be seen as manifestation of its intention to re-establish normal relations with Tbilisi. The Georgian government doesn’t believe these intentions true, demanding that an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council be held in connection with Russia’s latest steps regarding Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Washington also urged Moscow to repeal its decisions concerning the unrecognized republics.
Yesterday Russia’ Foreign Office informed that President Putin ordered that the government take “practical measures to normalize relations with Georgia.” The Foreign Ministry officials explained the meaning of the President’s instruction: “Federal executive bodies are to take steps to lift certain visa restrictions remaining that regard the citizens of Georgia, speed up the reconstruction of the Upper Lars checkpoint, begin consultations on the problem of the access of Georgian goods to the Russian market.” The last measure is especially critical to Georgia: It virtually implies the return of the Borjomi mineral water and Georgian wines to Russia.
The Foreign Ministry officials also emphasized that the listed measures would add to those already taken, namely the resume of transport and postal communications between the two states. “We reckon that our steps will be appropriately interpreted by the government of Georgia, and we expect that it makes positive steps in the same direction,” the Foreign Office stated. So Moscow removes all sanctions against Georgia it imposed 2006 as reaction to the moves of Georgia’s secret services, which arrested and later extradited 4 Russian officers, accusing them of espionage.
At the same time Vladimir Putin’s gesture of reconciliation has barely inspired the Georgian government. Tbilisi is still impressed by the orders he made only 3 days ago. According to them, Russia can develop relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia treating them as entities within the Russian Federation (Kommersant, April 17). “Under such circumstances when the Russian government virtually implements the annexation of a third our country with its previous decision, the improving of relations is out of question, it is not solution to the problem,” David Bakradze, Georgia’s Foreign Office chief stated categorically. The speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Nino Burjanadze, shares his view, “We expect that the previous decision will be reversed unless Russia’s new statement concerning the improvement of the relations with Georgia is another ruse to throw dust in the eyes of the world community.”
Tbilisi reckons that the international community will force Russia to repeal President Putin’s instructions. To this end, Georgia urged the UN Security Council to hold its extraordinary meeting to discuss Moscow’s recent steps concerning the unrecognized republics. The British Permanent Representative to the United Nations, John Sawers, has already declared that the matter would be touched upon during the regular consultations the next week.
So far Washington has been Tbilisi’s most staunch defender. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed concerns about Russia’s line during a phone call with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. More to the point, yesterday the USA officially called on Russia to reverse Vladimir Putin’s order. “We are deeply concerned by the April 16 Russian Presidential Instructions authorizing increased contacts between the Russian government and the separatist regimes in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, without the approval of the Georgian government,” claimed Sean McCormack, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, “We urge Russia to live up to its statements of support for the principles of Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity and to repeal the April 16 instructions.”
Vladimir Solovyov, Georgy Dvali. Tbilisi
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 19, 2008
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