In Tbilisi, they say the introduction of additional units of peacekeepers into Abkhazia makes normalization of relations between Georgia and Russia impossible.
Photo: AP, AP
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Georgia Accuses Russia of Aggression
Russia transferred an additional military contingent to Abkhazia yesterday. The Russian Foreign Ministry cited that the concentration of Georgian forces in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict as the cause for the expansion of the personnel of the CIS collective peacekeeping forces contingent. Georgia called the action “military annexation.”
It was clear several hours before the Foreign Ministry's statement that the situation in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone was heating up. Around noon, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Georgian armed forces has grouped on the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russian military promised an “adequate and firm response” in return. Several minutes later, the Russian Foreign Ministry made its statement, in which it harshly criticized Tbilisi's policy. Moscow called Georgia's actions in the conflict zone a “provocation” and accused Georgia of preparing for aggression on the territory of Abkhazia.
“An analysis of the makeup of the forces present in the region permits the conclusion that a staging area is being prepared to begin a military operation against Abkhazia,” the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. “In addition to the police of the government of Abkhazia in exile in Upper Kodori, there are Georgian special forces units present, as well as criminal and patrol police from the Samegrelo and Zemo-Svaneti regions, counterintelligence and soldiers of the Georgian Defense Ministry. There is artillery (several 122-mm firearms and mortars). Georgian Air Force planes are making regular flights with passes over the zone of responsibility of the peacekeeping forces. On March 18 and April 20, unpiloted reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the Georgian side were shot down in the security zone.”
At 12:45, a new statement was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry website that stated that the flight of the Georgian reconnaissance aircraft was a violation of the Moscow Agreement on a Ceasefire and Separation of Forces of May 14, 1994. In the Foreign Ministry's estimation, the appearance of the unpiloted reconnaissance aircraft over the conflict zones was a “destabilizing factor,” since such aircraft are used for military intelligence and “can be used for fire observation.”
Half an hour later, another statement from the Foreign Ministry followed to explain Russia's measures “for the protection of the interests of the residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.” They were what prompted the Georgian leadership to appeal to the European Union and NATO to demand changes in the format of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Abkhazia. The Foreign Ministry explained that Russia's concern for the residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was due to the unsettled armed conflicts on the territory of those republics and the infringement of the rights and freedoms of the residents through the policies of Georgian authorities. Finally, at 1:36 p.m., the Russian Foreign Ministry released a resolution “On Measures to Reinforce the Collective Forces of the CIS to Support Peace in the Georgian-Abkhazian Conflict Zone.” It was clear after that what the previous statements had been leading up to. “According to information received from the Russian Defense Ministry, the development of events in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone dictates the necessity of expanding the personnel of the CIS collective forces to support peace within the numerical limitations set by the decision of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS on August 22, 1994,” the resolution reads. “They will take this step on the basis of an assessment of information received from the conflict zone indicating growing tension as a consequence of measures of a destabilizing character taken by the Georgian side.” That means that Russia announced the introduction of additional forces into the territory of Abkhazia.
Georgia reacted instantly. Speaker of the Georgian parliament Nino Burjanadze called Russia's actions “an attempt at military annexation.” Chairman of the parliamentary committee on international affairs Konstantin Gabashvili told Kommersant that “The forces are being built up with the goal of a military invasion of Abkhazia. Today it has become obvious that relations between Russia and Georgia have heated to their limit. And Russia has shown itself to be the aggressor on an international level.”
Another Kommersant source in the Georgian parliament stated that “Russia has introduced forces into Abkhazia because it is frightened that the decision will be made at the Russia-NATO Council on Wednesday to replace Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia… Thus, Russia wants to show NATO that, in the event of such a decision, the West will get Russian tanks and airplanes in Abkhazia, it will get war.”
Abkhazian authorities told Kommersant that “It is not a matter the introduction of Russia forces into Abkhazia.” Abkhazian Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba said that “When the decision was made to introduce collective forces for the support of peace into the conflict zone, the number 3000 soldiers was written. All these years, there have been about 2000 Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone. The increase now taking place is within the limits of the agreement. To shout about aggression is silly. They are peacekeepers who protect civilian population.”
According to Shamba, the introduction of additional peacekeeping units into Abkhazia should take place in the coming days. “We hope it will take place as soon as possible,” Shamba said. “The Georgian side created the tension here itself. Introducing forces into Upper Kodori was illegal, since it is written in international agreements that it is a demilitarized zone and there should not be any forces there. Today, according to out data, there is a buildup of Georgian forces going on there. There are 1500 people in Upper Kodori [officially], although, according to our data, there are many more people there. In Zugdidi District, there are 2000 people officially, but ,according to our data, there are several times more. We see everything that goes on there, and that is why we are demanding that Russia protect us. The Georgian reconnaissance place shot down over Abkhazia was the last straw. We understood their strategy – they are provoking a situation to discredit the Russian peacekeepers and squeeze them out of here.”
All the past week, Georgia has held consultations with its Western partners on the possibility of replacing the Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zone. An informational campaign was conducted to imply that the NATO members states were prepared to demand the withdrawal of Russian soldiers from Abkhazia. After an interview with James Appathurai, official spokesman for the NATO secretary general, appeared in the Georgian press, declaring the alleged need to pull the Russian “blue helmets” out of the conflict zone, an international scandal broke out. Appathurai was forced to explain himself before Russian diplomats and deny the Georgian media coverage, which, he said, carried distorted information. Appathurai denied making the statements attributed to him and denied that similar statements were made in the NATO Council. According to Appathurai, the ambassadors of a number of alliance countries merely repeated once again that Russian's decision to establish direct contacts with Abkhazia and South Ossetia could call into question its role as an arbiter in regional frozen conflicts.
War was discussed in all seriousness in Georgia and Abkhazia yesterday. When asked by Kommersant whether Georgia would resort to force if Russia introduced additional forces into Abkhazia, MP Gabashvili said that anything is possible. “Georgia has clear said that it doesn't want war, least of all on its own territory and with its own citizens,” Gabashvili told Kommersant. “But if Russia is getting ready for a strike, Georgia will have to defend itself. Moscow is provoking us to use force. They are shouting about the expanded contingent in Kodori while they are bring in troops themselves. We have no buildup in Kodori. Even the observers say that. The Abkhazians are increasing their groupings on the border with Georgia and we are supposed to watch? No, we should be ready t defend our territory.”
Abkhazian Minister Shamba thinks that “Only Russia can save Abkhazia from war now” by bringing in a large number of soldiers. “If Georgia ignores Russia's actions, they can, of course, go to war, but that factor, in my view, will stop them,” he told Kommersant. “Recently, it has been obvious that the number of peacekeepers stationed here cannot handle the situation. [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili is continually talking about returning Abkhazia and we live in expectation of war. We are waiting not only for a statement from Russia, but for action as well. If Russia does not act decisively, the situation will get out of control.”
Late yesterday evening, Saakashvili addressed the nation on television and accused Russia of acts of aggression, stating that “the civilized world will not allow Georgia to be dismembered.”
The Balance of Power
The Georgian armed forces consist of about 25,000-30,000 people. The mobilization potential of the country is up to 100,000 servicemen. The core of the army is units trained by American instructors that participated in missions in Iraq. They include a battalion of “commandos,” a battalion of marines and a mountain battalion. The ground forces are organized into four infantry divisions and one artillery brigade. They have about 150 T-54, T-55 and T-72 tanks, about 200 armored vehicles and up to 400 artillery systems. The air force has up to ten Su-25 attack planes, several training planes and over 20 helicopters of various types. Georgian naval forces are made up of about 30 small craft, including two missile boats.
Abkhazian militarized formations contain 3000-5000 people. Up to 25,000 more reserves could be added if necessary (some sources say 50,000). The Abkhazian army has several dozen tanks and armored vehicles of various type. The unrecognized republic has its own air force of L-39 planes and helicopters. There have also been reports in the media that the Abkhazian air force has Su-27 planes. The Abkhazian fleet consists of several patrol boats and civilian craft with guns and artillery attached.
The Russian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia have two motorized infantry battalions, an independent mortar battery, an engineering squadron and backup subunits. The peacekeepers also have about 100 armored vehicles, about 200 regular vehicles and helicopters.
Olga Allenova
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 30, 2008
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