Exam Session for Russia
// The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly issued the first anti-Russian resolution
Yesterday a session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Astana adopted a resolution condemning Moscow’s policy towards the breakaway republics on the territory of Georgia. The document, initiated by the USA, was passed despite the protests of the Russian delegation. However, Moscow can be once more displeased. Today the Assembly considers Ukraine’s proposal to condemn the Holodomor, which is likely to be passed regardless of Russia’s resistance.
The third day of the 17th session of the OSCE PA, which opened in Astana on June 29, made Russia feel nervous. At yesterday’s session the delegates discussed and adopted a resolution prepared by American Congressman Elsie Hastings, which expresses concerns with the current state of security in Georgia.
Mr Hastings referred practically the entire cluster of Russia’s decisions concerning Georgia and its breakaway republics to destabilizing factors. In particular, the Congressman pointed to the fact that the escalation of tensions in the region is connected with “the Russian government’s orders to strengthen official links with the breakaway regimes of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia’s unilateral decision to deploy an extra contingent of its troops in Abkhazia,” and the relentless process of issuing Russian passports for the citizens of the republics. This said, Elsie Hastings urged that the OSCE PA should call on Moscow to abstain from contacting the authorities in Suhumi and Tskhinvali, and “to follow the OSCE standards and international norms in order to settle the disputes.”
The Hastings resolution caused heated discussions. Russian delegation representative, Deputy Chairman of the Duma International Affairs Committee Alexander Kozlovsky poured scorn on the rhetoric of the document calling it controversial. Strange as it might seem, the British sided with him. Their representative said that the Assembly shouldn’t pass a resolution that may ensue a fissure, and he even expressed his concerns regarding Georgia’s NATO aspirations. The Dutch delegation took a similar stance.
However, Russia’s opponents – the representatives of Georgia, Ukraine and the Baltic states – overshadowed their colleagues who supported Russia. The document was adopted by the majority of the delegates. “We are upset about the work of the Assembly,” complained Alexander Kozlovsky to Kommersant, “The OSCE keeps on with its practice of disciples and tutors. Unfortunately, the OSCE PA as a whole and a number of delegated in particular cause misunderstanding. It’s the wrong way.”
Today the Russian delegation can be attacked once again. The delegates will consider a resolution condemning the Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-33. Kiev has sought to render the Holodomor genocide against the Ukrainian people, whereas Moscow argues that this tragedy equally affected many USSR republics.
Nikolay Filchenko, Alexander Konstantinov; Astana
All the Article in Russian as of July 02, 2008
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