Georgia plans for ties with Abkhazia and S Ossetia
DANIEL McLAUGHLIN
Sat, Jan 30, 2010
GEORGIA
HAS drawn up a plan to strengthen economic and social links with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in the hope of eventually regaining control
of two rebel regions that Russia has recognised as independent states.
The
Georgian government said it "rejects the pursuit of a military
solution” in seeking to "achieve the full de-occupation . . . and
reverse the process of annexation of these territories by the Russian
Federation”, following a five-day war between Moscow’s and Tbilisi’s
forces in August 2008.
Tbilisi’s new strategy is intended to
restore grassroots co-operation between Georgians, Abkhaz and South
Ossetians, by restoring trade links, developing social and cultural
projects and improving access to healthcare and education for people in
the two disputed territories.
Russia’s military crushed a
Georgian bid to retake control of South Ossetia in 2008 and swiftly
poured troops into that region and Abkhazia and recognised them as
independent states.
Only Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru have
followed Moscow’s lead in acknowledging the sovereignty of the
provinces, which first broke away from Tbilisi’s rule in short but
vicious wars following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
Before
the 2008 war, Russia gave passports to many residents of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, and now effectively controls two grindingly poor regions
that have been subject to international isolation for almost two
decades.
"The key element of the document is that we say no to
any type of isolation of these regions,” said Temur Iakobashvili,
Georgia’s minister for reintegration.
"We cannot let the
situation wherein the fate of residents of these regions will depend
solely on the occupying power, so we plan to take active steps to
provide the local population with an opportunity to have normal
education, healthcare, to engage in economic projects.”
Nadir
Bitiev, an adviser to Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh, said Tbilisi’s plan
was "directed at other international structures they have to report to,
to look good”.
"We saw their idea of reintegration in August 2008,” he added.
Local
separatist leaders have, with Moscow’s support, prevented Georgian
officials and international monitors gaining access to the regions,
which are now guarded by thousands of Russian troops.
The
conflict undermined western faith in Georgian president Mikheil
Saakashvili, the main US and EU ally in the strategic Caucasus region.
Mr Saakashvili offered this week to make Georgia a key hub on the supply route for US-led forces fighting in Afghanistan.
© 2010 The Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/0130/1224263436060.html
