euro|topics - War in the Caucasus

Main focus of Monday, August 11, 2008

War in the Caucasus

The smouldering conflict between Russia and Georgia has escalated. On Friday Georgian troops marched into the seccessionist province of South Ossetia, and Russia answered on the weekend with a major offensive. Europe's press looks at the crisis on Europe's doorstep.

Dnevnik - Slovenia

The daily Dnevnik paints a gloomy picture of the consequences of the conflict in South Ossetia: "If the war in the Caucasus spreads quickly it could swell beyond Georgia's borders, confronting Europe with the worst crisis on its doorstep since the Second World War. In comparison with the Caucasian turmoil the war in Yugoslavia could be relegated to the last pages of the history books. The world has not been this close to a new Cold War since the implosion of the Soviet Union. .. The doubts about Russia's comeback as a world power have now been entirely dispelled. The primordial fear of the Russian bear has gained new force." (11/08/2008)

The Times - United Kingdom

The Times warns Russia of the consequences of its attack on Georgia: "To launch an assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, was a model case of Talleyrand's dictum: worse than a crime, it was a blunder - and an inexcusable provocation to Moscow. ... Western diplomacy should certainly urge negotiations over the separatist enclaves in Georgia. But there is a danger in merely splitting the difference in this conflict. There should rather be one overriding and consistent message given to Moscow, and that is 'no blood for oil'. ... Georgia reasonably seeks close relations with the West. It also sees the Baltic states as a precedent for other former Soviet republics to seek membership of Nato. The neo-imperialism practised by Moscow is a clear incentive for Georgia to persist with that strategy. Russia cannot be seen as a plausible arbiter of disputes in the region when it fails to acknowledge the legitimate goals of other states. Western governments, like everyone else, do not want conflict in the region. But there are costs to sending out muted or mixed messages. Russia's conduct is unconscionable. It should be warned that it risks international pariah status unless it withdraws." (11/08/2008)

Gazeta Wyborcza - Poland

The Gazeta Wyborcza publishes a joint declaration by the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in which the politicians protest vehemently at Russia's actions in Caucasus. "We, the leaders of the formerly enslaved nations of Eastern Europe, now members of the European Union and Nato - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - express our extreme concern about the Russian Federation's behaviour towards Georgia. ... In response to the unilateral military activities of the Russian forces we will use all means available to us as presidents to ensure that this act of aggression against a small state in Europe is not concealed or dismissed with meaningless statements that put the victims on an equal footing with the perpetrators. ... The EU and Nato must take the initiative and oppose the spread of imperialist and revisionist policies in Eastern Europe." (11/08/2008)

Magyar Nemzet - Hungary

The conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet lays the blame for the escalation of the conflict in South Ossetia squarely on the shoulders of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili: "Mikheil Saakashvili is in difficulties. ... Although he dominates the world's press with his rhetoric, at times proclaiming victory, at times ranting about Russian aggression or democracy and Western values (after crushing demonstrations, committing electoral fraud and reducing the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali to rubble), and despite the tailwind from the West, one thing is nevertheless clear: The Georgian president has grossly miscalculated. ... Saakashvili and Georgia may have started the biggest international conflict in recent years. ... The Georgian president has confused his desires with reality, and blatantly misjudged the situation. ... He did not seriously reckon with retaliation by Moscow, for example. Either that or he simply planned to blame Russia. ... In any event, Saakashvili has clearly shot an own goal." (11/08/2008)

Le Figaro - France

Le Figaro newspaper sees the EU - and especially the French EU Council presidency - as key mediators in South Ossetia: "The diplomatic phase now starting in South Ossetia will be more complicated than the current military conflict. It is not just the fate of a separatist Georgian province, and soon that of a second, Abkhazia, that lie in the balance. At stake here are relations between Russia and the West. ... As Europe's leader, France is decisively positioned to mediate between East and West. ... The EU is the main player between the United States and Russia. In continuing the German initiative on Abkhazia, European diplomacy must maintain peace on our continent by engaging in mediation with Moscow. This is a major responsibility for the French presidency." (11/08/2008)

» To the complete press review of Monday, August 11, 2008

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