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Austin Buben

FT.com / Comment / Opinion - Why I had to recognise Georgia's breakaway regions - 0 views

  • Meanwhile, ignoring Russia’s warnings, western countries rushed to recognise Kosovo’s illegal declaration of independence from Serbia. We argued consistently that it would be impossible, after that, to tell the Abkhazians and Ossetians (and dozens of other groups around the world) that what was good for the Kosovo Albanians was not good for them. In international relations, you cannot have one rule for some and another rule for others.
    • Austin Buben
       
      Basically sums up my Tagline saying that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia and the International Court of Justice's decision to recognize it as an independent state has heightened the debate over whether Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be considered independent states from Georgia.
Shana Thomas

International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

  • Abkhazia and South Ossetia are two breakaway republics in the Caucasus with disputed status over whether they are a part of Georgia or sovereign states.[1] The Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia were recognised following the 2008 South Ossetia War between Russia and Georgia
  • South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia during the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War on 29 May 1992, with its Constitution referring to the "Republic of South Ossetia".[6][7][8] Abkhazia declared its independence after its war with Georgia in 1992–1993. Its Constitution was adopted on 26 November 1994.[9][10
  • Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February 2008 and its divided international acceptance prompted speculation that there could be implications for the frozen South Caucasus situation.
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  • In April 2008, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1808 that reaffirmed "the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and supports all efforts by the United Nations and the Group of Friends of the Secretary-General, which are guided by their determination to promote a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict only by peaceful means and within the framework of the Security Council resolutions
  • President Medvedev stated that "Western countries rushed to recognise Kosovo's illegal declaration of independence from Serbia. We argued consistently that it would be impossible, after that, to tell the Abkhazians and Ossetians (and dozens of other groups around the world) that what was good for the Kosovo Albanians was not good for them. In international relations, you cannot have one rule for some and another rule for others."[21]
  • After hearing the aforementioned appeals from both the Abkhazian and South Ossetian leadership, on 25 August 2008, the Federation Council and State Duma passed motions calling upon President Dmitry Medvedev to recognise the independence of both states and establish diplomatic relations.[15][16]
  • South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity flew to Moscow on 23 August 2008 to address the Federation Council of Russia, and in his appeal stated "what the Georgian leadership has done in South Ossetia can only be described as a Caucasian Stalingrad." On 25 August 2008, President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh also made a presentation to the Federation Council. In his address to the Council, Bagapsh stated "I can say for certain that Abkhazia and South Ossetia will never be part of Georgia."[15]
  • Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili considered Russia's move as an attempt to alter the borders of Europe by force. Below are some excerpts from his statement:[32] This is the first attempt on European territory ... since Hitler's regime and Stalin's Soviet Union where a large state is trying unilaterally, with the use of force, to completely crush a neighbouring country and openly annex its territory. This is inconceivable lawlessness and insolence ... Russia has done unthinkable damage to its place in the international community. The question of the re-establishment of the territorial integrity of Georgia and the protection of its freedom — this is not an internal Georgian problem, or a question of Georgia and Russia. This is now a question of Russia and the rest of the civilised world. Georgia's future, is not only the future of Georgia, this is the future of the whole civilised world...
    • Shana Thomas
       
      This section will be useful * debate card #3??
  • The European Union,[44] NATO,[45] the OSCE,[46] the United States[47] and other countries immediately voiced displeasure with Russia's decision
  • Comparisons with Kosovo
  • support Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
  • Ukraine categorically reprobates an adventurous decision of Russia to recognise the self-declared independence and calls for international community to combine efforts in relation to absolute confirmation and observance of territorial integrity of Georgia and implementation of the undertaken international obligations of Russia".
  • Ukraine does not support the decision of Russia to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. "We are sorry about [the] adoption of such a decision. For Ukraine it is unacceptable therefore we cannot support the position."[215] However, the parliament of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea passed a resolution, supporting independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, backing Russia's actions in the regions, and urging the Ukrainian parliament to "accept" the independence of these states
  • October 2009, Ukrainian Ambassador to Russia Kostyantyn Hryshchenko said that "We must not recognize neither Kosovo nor Abkhazia, nor South Ossetia in no case"
  •  Kosovo President of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu said that Kosovo cannot serve as an example for Russia to recognise South Ossetia or Abkhazia. He said, "We have always stressed that Kosovo has special characteristics; that it is sui generis and it cannot be used as a precedent for other conflict zones, areas or regions"
  • UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated that "the question of recognition of states is a matter for sovereign states to decide.
  • "this is in direct violation of numerous UN Security Council resolutions regarding Georgia's territorial integrity, resolutions that Russia itself has endorsed. Russia's actions in recent weeks call into question Russia's commitment to peace and security in the Caucasus. NATO firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and calls on Russia to respect these principles".[156] In December 2009, following NATO summit it was announced that NATO member states will not recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia and called on Russia to reverse its decision.[262]
Ellen Mischinski

Russia says recognition of S.Ossetia, Abkhazia irreversible | Russia | RIA Novosti - 0 views

    • Ellen Mischinski
       
      NATO is mad at Russia for recognizing Abk. and SO, so most NATO countries wouldn't like it if the ICJ recognized them.
  • Western leaders have condemned Russia's decision, which has sparked fears of a new Cold War. U.S. President George W. Bush said in a statement on Tuesday: "Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations."
Ellen Mischinski

S. Ossetia to be absorbed into Russia - UPI.com - 0 views

    • Ellen Mischinski
       
      Ellen found this.
  • The former province of Georgia will be absorbed into Russia, declared Trazan Kokoity, deputy speaker of South Ossetia's parliament in Tskhivali, only three days after Russia recognized the Georgian breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to be independent states,
  • Eduard Kokoity, South Ossetia's leader, said during talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that it would become part of Russia within "several years,"
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  • The declaration will likely produce a backlash in the West,
  • Russia is planning to construct a pair of military bases in Abkhazia,
Katy Field

Debate Resolution #2: Caucasus - 0 views

Resolved: In order to promote peace and stability the ICJ should extend its ruling on the legality of Kosovo's independence to include recognition of Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence as well.

resolution

started by Katy Field on 09 Nov 11 no follow-up yet
Ellen Mischinski

The Jamestown Foundation: The Chechen Reaction to the Georgian Crisis - 0 views

  • the Chechen refugees in Georgia began to disappear, which naturally alerted the Chechen Diaspora as well as refugees from Chechnya, which by then was already a sizeable group
  • unanimous support for Georgia’s actions and were convinced that Georgia’s actions were provoked by Russia (Kavkazky Uzel, August 7). Moreover, the Georgians noticed that Chechens from the Vostok battalion were the ones who saved many Georgian civilians from revenge attacks by Ossetians and Russians
  • At the time the Russian leadership’s position on South Ossetia was probably not clear to Kadyrov. When he understood what Russia’s interest was he made a new statement offering to send 10,000 Chechen fighters (Vesti.ru, August 12). Furthermore, by then he knew that his implacable foe, Sulim Yamadaev, the Vostok battalion’s commander, was among the Russian troops in South Ossetia.
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  • 20 young Chechen girls had joined the ranks of militants hiding in the mountains and said there were many other instances of departures by young people eager to participate in the resistance movement
  • The democratic wing of the Chechen resistance limited itself to ambiguous statements of support for Georgia based not on the principle of territorial integrity but on criticism of Russia for its hypocritical position regarding those who had been struggling for independence for close to two decades
    • Ellen Mischinski
       
      Chechens teamed up with Georgia, both don't like russia. Chechens think russia is being hypocritical recognizing SO & Abk. but not Chechnya. Young boys and girls going off to fight in resistance=violence / anti-peace/stability
Kevin Gregor

NATO's relations with Georgia - 0 views

  •  
    -Kevin Gregor
Shana Thomas

Georgia Is Warned by Russia Against Plans to Join NATO - NYTimes.com - 1 views

    • Shana Thomas
       
      So- I'm guessing that Russia would not approve of Abkhazia being known as independent? Wouldn't this also "threaten" Russia? since Russia borders Abkhazia?
  • President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia warned the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, on Friday that Georgia’s joining NATO would deepen the conflict between the former Soviet states.
  • Mr. Medvedev told Mr. Saakashvili that his quest for NATO membership would not help resolve the simmering tensions in the separatist Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
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  • Russian troop buildup in Abkhazia could destabilize the region,
  • German leaders had expressed their concern to him about relations between Russia and Georgia
  • Russia wanted to resolve the conflicts, but not with outside help,
  • Mr. Saakashvili, however, did not back away from his long-term goal of joining NATO. Georgia has applied for membership, and NATO has promised that it will eventually be accepted.
  • Mr. Medvedev has argued that NATO membership for Georgia or Ukraine, which has also sought membership, would threaten Russian security.
  • Abkhazia borders the Krasnodar region of Russia
  •  
    -Kevin Gregor
Ellen Mischinski

Freshly Recognized - Kommersant Moscow - 0 views

  • Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia can place military bases on each other’s territories,” Lavrov said.
  • the Russian military contingent will consist of 3800 people in each republic.
  • Now, a list of 39 countries that recognize the republic is posted on the president’s website. Neither Nicaragua nor Russia is on the list. They are the only countries to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
    • Ellen Mischinski
       
      If they play the hypocrite card, we can use this as a rebuttal
  •  
    Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia can place military bases on each other's territories," Lavrov said.
Kevin Gregor

No Comparison Between Kosovo And South Ossetia - 0 views

  • Under the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution, Kosovo was granted the status of an autonomous province with virtually the same rights and responsibilities as the six Yugoslav republics, granting Kosovo an implied right of secession. Kosovo's autonomy included its own identity, territory, international-relations powers, and representation in all organs of the Yugoslav Federation. As a result, Serbian actions to deprive Kosovo of its autonomy, beginning in 1989, were clearly inconsistent with the existing Yugoslav Constitution and law and with accepted international practice.South Ossetia had no such right under the Soviet Union. According to Article 72 of the 1977 Soviet Constitution only the 15 republics possessed the right to secede from the union. Georgia emerged from the Soviet Union as an internationally recognized, independent state, and South Ossetia was considered part of its territory.
Shana Thomas

South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times - 0 views

    • Shana Thomas
       
      This shows that if Russia feels threatened they WILL attack Georgia with force; They even occupied part of Georgia's N. land...
    • Shana Thomas
       
      So, Russia supports South Ossetia as an independent country because it borders Georgia and if needed Russia can use South Ossetia to get into Georgia
  • On July 14, 2009, the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, made a surprise visit to breakaway South Ossetia, inspecting a new Russian military base there and promising citizens that Russia would rebuild neighborhoods destroyed during the brief war between Russia and Georgia
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    • Shana Thomas
       
      Russia just being nice to South Ossetia in order to use them if necessary 
  • t falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent since fighting broke out in the early 1990's, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Whatever vestige of control Georgia had it lost in a short war in August 2008, in which its forces were routed by Russian troops. Afterward, it was recognized by Russia as a sovereign nation, a designation not supported by most of the rest of the international community.
  • Russia has supported South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as quasi-satellites
  • 2005 Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili offered significant autonomy and economic development to South Ossetia if it renounced independence.
  • In 2008, tensions between Georgia and Russia rose steadily and during the summer artillery fire was exchanged across the South Ossetian border. On August 7th the Georgian military launched an assault on the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, claiming that they were forestalling a Russian invasion. In the event, a massive Russian invasion soon followed, and the Georgians were not only driven from Tskhinvali, but lost control of the approaches to Abkhazia and, for a time, large swaths of its own northern territory.
Ellen Mischinski

Moscow's Possible Motives In Recognizing Abkhazia, South Ossetia - 0 views

  • To avert that nightmare scenario, Russia did not hesitate to use brute force to smash the Chechen independence movement. Yet the subsequent decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia might present Russia with uneasy contradictions in foreign policy.
Neha Kukreja

Mexico Debate Resolution - 19 views

-Value to be promoted: peace and stability -Actor: The United States Government -Action: 1.shift funding for military/ military equipment for Mexico to substance abuse treatment and prevention prog...

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