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TBILISI: Lavrov States Russian Position On Caucasus Conflicts

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  • TBILISI: Lavrov States Russian Position On Caucasus Conflicts

    LAVROV STATES RUSSIAN POSITION ON CAUCASUS CONFLICTS
    By Ernest Petrosyan

    The Messenger
    Sept 29 2011
    Georgia

    "We are strongly committed to doing our utmost in order to prevent a
    repetition of the use of force scenario in the Caucasus as happened in
    August 2008 as a result of a reckless venture by the ruling regime
    in Tbilisi," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his
    speech to the UN General Assembly on September 27, where he spoke of
    conflicts in the post-Soviet space, also mentioning Nagorno-Karabakh
    and Transdnistria.

    Lavrov insisted on Moscow's role as a peace and security "guarantor"
    rather than as an active combatant in Georgia's conflicts, and called
    for non-use of force arrangements between Tbilisi and the breakaway
    regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

    "Russia is ready to act as a guarantor of arrangements on the non-use
    of force between Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia taking into
    account the earlier relevant statements made by the leaders of these
    three parties," said Lavrov. He also noted that the Russian side would
    welcome it if the United States and the European Union made similar
    commitments. As guarantors, we would be ready to take steps to prevent
    the resumption of violence in the region and in case of wrongful use
    of force by either side, to work towards the early settlement of the
    situation on the basis of the existing norms of international law,"
    he added.

    According to Lavrov, the Russian Federation continues to pressure
    Tbilisi to sign the non-use of force agreement between Sukhumi and
    Tskhinvali, representing them as the main sides in the conflicts. Such
    a proposal however, is opposed by Tbilisi, since the Georgian
    government, considers the Russian Federation as a main player in the
    conflict, and refuses to cooperate with the puppet regimes in the
    breakaway regions.

    Last year the Russian Federation also offered unilateral non-use
    of force declarations to be made separately by Tbilisi, Sokhumi and
    Tskhinvali, instead of signing agreements. However, after President
    Saakashvili made such a unilateral non-use of force pledge at the
    European Parliament on November 23, Moscow restated that there must be
    a written agreement between the sides, but at the same time refused
    to take part in such an agreement, arguing that it is "a mediator"
    and "guarantor", not a party into the conflict.

    President Saakashvili also raised this issue during his speech to
    the UN General Assembly a week ago, saying that almost a year after
    solemnly pledging that Georgia "will never use force to liberate its
    regions currently occupied by the Russian Federation," Tbilisi was
    still waiting for Moscow's reciprocal pledge.

    Political Analyst Zurab Abashidze also considers that such statements
    and proposals from the Russian side will not have any consequences.

    "It is obvious that Russia represents a part of the conflict, and it
    would be reasonable to sign a non-use of force agreement with Russia
    itself. President Saakashvili announced at various international events
    that Georgia will never apply force in regard to both conflicts, and
    this should be enough", said Abashidze. He also excluded that the US
    and EU will follow Lavrov's offer to share such security guarantor
    commitments with the Russian Federation.

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