NATO warns Russia not to interfere in Georgia

NATO warns Russia not to interfere in Georgia

afp.google.com

BRUSSELS (AFP) — NATO warned Russia Wednesday to stop taking action to undermine Georgia's territorial integrity, after Moscow announced it would send more peacekeepers to two rebel Georgian regions.

Russia's move, to counter what it said was the massing of Georgian troops near Abkhazia and South Ossetia, raised concern in the United States while the European Union has said that any military build-up would not be wise.

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Nato, the US and the EU have all warned Russia against adding to its military build-up in and around Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This isn't the first time that Russia and Georgia have been at military odds.

What will NATO et al.., do if Russia and Georgia go to war? This is something that could affect every one of us here on ATS. With all the speculation of the US attacking Iran and increased world tension due to food & fuel out-pricing, could this be the spark that ignites the fuse for the Middle East and turns our heads away from our domestic problems?

afp.google.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 30/4/08 by Rapacity]

reply to post by Rapacity


I fail to see how a conflict in Georgia could cause a war in the Middle East?
Anyways, good find OP, starrrred and flagggged. Russia is a paper tiger though, nothing will happen with Georgia. Its nut-flexing.

reply to post by ppskylight


Russia is definitely not as strong as USSR but paper tiger? How about all the nukes.
And since prices now rise and inflation is a problem in Russia ,despite oil profits (which go to very few) the best way to distract its citizens will be small war and western pressure. "Why economy sucks - West wants to destroy Russia again" will work just fine.
People might suffer but politicians will keep the chairs and the money.

reply to post by ppskylight


let's see, the US sides with Georgia, along with Britain, France etc. Iran, seeing an opportunity to further their own needs and ambitions, sides with Russia. China follows suit. Syrian/Iranian backed terror group launches attackes on Israel, figuring Iran and Syria being in bed with Russia and China will be enough backing to keep Israel from doing anything to them.
Israel attacks the terror group and Syria or Iran. The fun then begins.

Britain is sending thousands of troops to Georgia next week to help keep the peace....i hope Russia backs the Serbs ....

Originally posted by Crakeur
reply to post by ppskylight

 

let's see, the US sides with Georgia, along with Britain, France etc. Iran, seeing an opportunity to further their own needs and ambitions, sides with Russia. China follows suit. Syrian/Iranian backed terror group launches attackes on Israel, figuring Iran and Syria being in bed with Russia and China will be enough backing to keep Israel from doing anything to them.
Israel attacks the terror group and Syria or Iran. The fun then begins.

NATO + Israel are more than capable of taking on a theoretical Russian/Iranian alliance.
China's economic ties to the US in almost any case prevent it from engaging in military conflict with us.
Russia is unlikely to seek conflict with NATO, and what we are seeing is chest thumping and the showing of teeth. Like a small ,yappy dog, its noisy and clearly has teeth, but you shouldn't be afraid. Russia has economic issues to worry about, I will garentee that Russia doesn't go to war with Georgia, and we'll all still be here next week.

Look at this quote from the bbc.co.uk

Nato has warned Russia that its recent troop build-up in Georgia's two breakaway regions undermines its neighbour's territorial integrity.

Russia's moves in Abkhazia and South Ossetia were raising tensions in the area, a Nato spokesman said.

Moscow has accused Georgia of preparing to invade Abkhazia, and says it is also boosting Russian peacekeeping forces there and in South Ossetia.

Tbilisi has described the Russian move as "irresponsible".

"The steps that have been taken [by Russia] and the rhetoric have increased tensions and undermined Georgia's territorial integrity," Nato spokesman James Appathurai said.

He also urged both Moscow and Tbilisi to avoid harsh rhetoric.

It says that Russia "undermines its neighbour's territorial integrity" by offering assistance to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Forgive me for being blind or stupid, but isn't Russia just doing as (in the past) the US did for South Korea and the U.N did for Cyprus whilst their neighbours threatened them? Namely, support a nation to remain/become sovereign. From what I can see, Russia is only supporting its allies (as the West usually does) so why should NATO start spouting warnings that most likely amount to nothing more than hot air - do you want NATO to send international troops to/near the region?

reply to post by Crakeur


This is a troubling development considering that this will excuse more defense spending (ironic no?) here in the US. Has anyone ever reviewed the 'assets' of the Georgian people? Why antagonize them at all? It's difficult to believe this is an emotional or pride issue.

It just seems recently that the whole world has become a tinderbox ready to lite. Really wonder what region is going to kick off the big one to come.

reply to post by ppskylight


I'm not concerned. Someone asked how it could lead to was in the Middle East. Just gave a short and ugly version of how it could happen

Their are three reasons I think it could lead to the Middle East:

1, It's better to battle your adversaries away from your own territory. With so many issues in the ME (Iran, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Iraq...) it would be better to send troops to support a party there and have them fight the "enemy" away from home (on the basis of - if you're unsure of capabilities then find a good testing ground.);

2, Whilst we're looking at developments between Russia and Giorgia, we will not be keeping tabs on action in the ME. If we're assumed to be not looking then they might attack each other; and,

3, The West might attack Iran.., whilst Russia is otherwise engaged with Georgia in the hope that Russia will not be positioned to assist Iran.

I can think of many scenarios but one of the above are the ones I think most likely.

[edit on 30/4/08 by Rapacity]

LOL

so its a case of `do as i say dont do as i do`

the US was behind kosovo`s indepednace - this is payback from teh russians - and the US warning russia? won`t go anywhere

Russia will treat any warning from NATO exactly the same as NATO treated Russia's warning not to make Kosovo independent - with complete disregard.

Russia very vocally warned NATO against granting independence to Kosovo. Russia stated that this set a precedent to any and all regions of the world that wish for independence for whatever reason. Russia warned NATO that its recklessness will lead to the gravest of consequences for nations like Georgia. And NATO wants to warn Russia? Why in devil's name would Russia heed NATO's advice now?

Georgia has been preparing for war for the last 3 years under U.S.-backed pupper Saakashvilli. Under Saakashvilli Georgia never hid its intentions to retake Abkhazia and South Ossetia regardless of how much bloodshed this will take.

Russia's role is to protect ethnic Abkhazians and Ossetians who not want to go back under Georgia's rule. However even when Russia had the chance to make these regions independent in 1990's, it did not do it. Russia's intent is not to make Abkhazia or South Ossetia independent or add them to the Russian Federation. It's intent is to make sure armed conflict does not break out there, because that could lead to the spread of violance in Chechnya and other Caucasus regions.


Now Georgia is rapidly increasing its activity on the border with Abkhazia. And Russia has been angered by Kosovo to a large extent. Thus this time around Russia may become involved in Georgia's conflict for real - and the only blame is NATO for setting a precedent in Kosovo.

Name 1 reason why Kosovo deserves independence more than Abkhazia or South Ossetia? If the two are otherwise equal, then why isn't NATO granting Abkhazia independence and putting Georgians on trial for war crimes. The hypocricy of the situation is so obvious to anyone familiar with the case, that mention of Georgia by NATO sounds pathetic.



Thus NATO has no say on this issue or any other issue concerning Russia after Kosovo. If NATO wants to warn Russia, it might as well bash its head against the wall. If war breaks out in Georgia NATO will not get involved - that is assured. NATO declined to offer Georgia membership this year, which showed that Georgia is far to reckless to belong to the club of the bureaucratic elite.

Russia is not going to attack anyone first. However if Georgia intervenes in Abkhazia Russia may very well become involved. If that happens Georgia stands no chance of winning, and Saakashivilli will be finished and maybe even killed by his own countrymen.

Regarding the talk about this potential conflict bringing in the big guns (U.S., NATO) and spreading to the Middle East - not happening.

Remember - this is not the first, second, or third conflict in the Caucasus region. Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Ichkeria, Azerbaijan, Armenia - all had a fair share of bloody conflicts in just a decade and a half. They have never spread far because the region is georgraphically and politically isolated. It is true that whenever a conflict breaks out in the Caucasus it usually spreads to neighboring Caucasus areas - but not outside of the region.

Moreover NATO rejected inviting Georgia for a reason. This reason is a tremendous degree of political and economic instability in the country. If Georgia has demonstrated anything in its last 18 years of independence - it is that nothing lasts very long there, especially not the government. NATO will not back Georgia, because if they would they would only back Saakashvilli, and he is on his way out. Thus NATO and U.S. cannot realistically have long-term presence there.

U.S. is Saakashivilli's friend of necessity, it is not and never was an ally. Plus U.S. cannot risk open hostility with Russia because of a small and meaningless country - because that is exactly what Georgia is. The only help U.S. might give in form of weapons and aid. In the bigger scheme of things Georgia means nothing to the U.S.

Furthermore Georgia does not have any ties with anyone in the Middle East. It is a very isolated international entity. If this conflict takes place it will be bloody, but it will be limited to Georgia.