Main focus of Friday, August 7, 2009

One year after the Caucasus war

A year after the war between Georgia and Russia over the secessionist Georgian province of South Ossetia, the political situation in the region has once more escalated. While Russian troops are once again being made ready for combat, the European press appraises the five-day military conflict of one year ago.

Lidové noviny - Czech Republic

Russia should be satisfied that a year after the military conflict in the South Caucasus the West has almost completely withdrawn its support for Tbilisi, the conservative daily Lidové Noviny writes: "What's more, thanks to its renewed military presence in the region Russia's self-confidence has increased dramatically. … Moscow is also happy about Nato's reserve regarding Georgia's desire [for Nato membership]. … Moscow is repeating its argument that Georgia has been 'punished' for its policy regarding South Ossetia. A little less loudly it adds that this is a warning to other countries in the post-Soviet region trying to escape Russia's influence. It's an open secret that the countries in question are mainly central Asian republics that are flirting with the US." (07/08/2009)

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Diena - Latvia

The war in the Caucasus a year ago only strengthened Russia's influence in the region, writes the daily Diena: "The war in Georgia is an example of politics based on the 20th century idea of 'spheres of influence', according to which state sovereignty is the priviledge of the major powers. And with the war it became clear that the US's influence as Georgia's most important ally since the Cold War has receded. By contrast the role of the EU in the post-Soviet sphere - and consequently also in the Caucasus - has grown. Nevertheless numerous politicians and intellectuals from Central and Eastern Europe explained in a letter to Barack Obama that these developments do not compensate for the widespread feeling of insecurity in the region. Today the economic crisis now leaves these countries even less protected from Russia's growing influence. The war in Georgia is one more reminder that for the Kremlin neighbouring states are either vassals or enemies." (07/08/2009)

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Diário de Notícias - Portugal

In the eyes of the daily Diário de Notícias the US and the EU are provoking Russia by backing Georgia's bid to join Nato: "The European Union and the US are playing a dangerous game if they want to maintain good relations with Russia and at the same time support [Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili's efforts, as became clear only recently when [US Vice President] Joe Biden enthusiastically backed [Georgia's] Nato accession during his visit to Tbilisi. They are testing how far the Russians are willing to go to defend the areas that are under its influence. And as we saw on 7 August 2008 when Russia used the force of arms to defend South Ossetia, Moscow is not very tolerant." (07/08/2009)

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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Germany

The five-day war between Georgia and Russia considerably reduced Georgia's chances of joining Nato, writes the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. "Granted, Georgia didn't stand a very high chance of joining Nato even before the war, as the territorial and ethnic conflicts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia remained unresolved. ... If it is intent on achieving lasting freedom from Russian influence by joining Nato, the government in Tbilisi might one day have to renounce its claim on the provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But no political force in Georgia seems ready to take that step. ... Although both sides accuse each other of being trigger-happy, for the time being neither has any interest in a new armed conflict. Nevertheless it serves the interests of more than one party that the ongoing fear of war overshadows domestic difficulties." (07/08/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Russia, » Europe, » North America, » Georgian Republic
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