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War in the Caucasus … Georgia ‘Doesn’t Stand a Chance’: Editorial from Le Figaro
With French leader Nicolas Sarkozy occupying the rotating seat of the EU presidency, what do the French have to say about the widening crisis in the Caucasus and America’s role in it?
Outlining what’s at stake, Pierre Rousselin writes for Le Figaro:
“South Ossetia might seem like beautiful, distant confetti lost in the Caucasus, but the fighting taking place there must be taken very seriously. An open war has begun between Russia and pro-Western Georgia, over Georgian territory where Moscow supports secessionist aspirations. But this issue goes far beyond that. This concerns the relations that Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Dimitri Medvedev Russia wish to establish with its ‘near abroad’ and the Atlantic Alliance.
Pointing to the central dilemma for the West, Rousselin writes:
“Calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities are needed, as is insistence on Moscow’s compliance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally-recognized borders. But to impose such fine principles, we’ll have to make them forget the precedent of the unilateral independence of Kosovo which the Kremlin brandishes to justify its intervention in support of the Georgian separatists.”
Then commenting on what recent events demonstrate and what should be done, Rousselin goes on:
“Is NATO going to risk a war with Russia to save Georgia? In bombing the base where U.S. instructors are stationed, the Russian Air Force has pointed its finger at Western impotence. Now that Moscow has unleashed its tanks and planes into the battle, Georgia doesn’t stand a chance … he conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi has been brewing for a long time. Now that war is at the gates of our continent – the European Union, under the French presidency, must regain the initiative to ensure that relations with Russia don’t irreversibly deteriorate.”
EDITORIAL By Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Nicolas Dagher
August 9, 2008
France – Le Figaro – Original Article (French)
South Ossetia might seem like beautiful, distant confetti lost in the Caucasus, but the fighting taking place there must be taken very seriously. An open war has begun between Russia and pro-Western Georgia, over Georgian territory where Moscow supports secessionist aspirations.
But this issue goes far beyond that. This concerns the relations that Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Dimitri Medvedev Russia wish to establish with its “near abroad” and the Atlantic Alliance.
Calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities in needed, as is insistence on Moscow’s compliance with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally-recognized borders. But to impose such fine principles, we’ll have to make them forget the precedent of the unilateral independence of Kosovo which the Kremlin brandishes to justify its intervention in support of the Georgian separatists.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, along with continuing translated foreign press coverage of the crisis in the Caucuses as it impinges on our nation. More articles from France, Germany and Romania expected in the next 24 hours.
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7 Responses to “War in the Caucasus … Georgia ‘Doesn’t Stand a Chance’: Editorial from Le Figaro”
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Europe needs the G A Z .
Europe will do nothing.
The USA has its hands full already and this is a European problem. (Not applicable here is that Russia also has a Muslim terrorism problem and occasionally appeals to those who want us to leave Russia because of that.)
The USA will do next to nothing.
Bruno continues his ugly ways.
We could sure use a proven diplomat with worldwide respect in the next administration. No one allied with Bush will do. The short-pants kid ain't gonna cut it either.
Who but who could restore real american world allies?
Meanwhile, where's the cartoon that precedes the one above? You know, the eagle descending on Iraq..?
You DO realize we cannot criticize Russia's invasion of Georgia under false pretenses, when really it's about controlling oil, when we ourselves have done the EXACT SAME THING….FIRST….
I want to criticize Russia, really I do. But I'm finding it very hard to do without looking like a jackass hypocrite.
We aren't the same as Russia and you and others (such as Chris WWW) should know better than that.
As for Bruno's latest romping range…
http://www.american.edu/ted/ice/ossetia.htm
Russia is not just interested in controlling oil (bombing pipelines of its competitors, something McCain didn't neglect in his remarks about the current Russian mischief) and obviously Georgia is not a serious threat to its interests and a past-demonstrated enemy.
It's an uglier game Russia is playing than anything you could sanely envision about the neo-cons and their conceit. It's not just striking back at a pro-western government as part of a descent into the sewer that Russia has been engaged in for years now. It's not necessarily a way to cow Ukraine and Belarus and other nations closer to Russia that Russia resents no longer controlling at the level of slavery, of _true_ empire (anti-US lefties take note even if you probably won't learn yet, either). It could well involve some regression to “defensive annexation.”
This framing of the events by Pierre Rousselin doesn't quite fit with the facts I've read in the British press. I wonder who is right.
It's very unclear what Russia is doing here. I don't doubt that they'd like to annex some of these little countries….but the fact is, the South Ossetians do NOT want to be part of Georgia and have declared their independence. They would like to unify with their ethnic kin in North Ossetia (which is in Russia).
Once the Georgian president launched a surprise attack (during a ceasefire) against the South Ossetian rebels, the Russians had a “peacekeeping” responsibility under the CIS agreement.
I am surprised that people are buying into the “Russia as oppressor” argument. Georgia is trying to force South Ossetia (which has had de facto independence since the nineties and voted for independence in a referendum) to reunify with it.
I don't know who is most in the wrong here, and I certainly can easily believe that Russia would LIKE to have an excuse to retrieve lost territory (and was helping to stir things up)….but that's NOT why this whole thing started.
These oversimplifications in the media are really worrying me. A complex situation requires a complex response.
This Russia cartoon and the one above it are hilarious, unlike the stupid Hitler cartoon above.