Is the era of a second Cold War knocking at the door? (2008-09-03)
On the day of the opening ceremony of the Olympics Russian troops moved into the territory of a small country which boarders with Russia, called Georgia. The Russian military made an extremely big devastation in the country including in its infrastructure as well. According to not official information approximately 2000 Georgian people were killed. Civilian houses were flattered, and giving a shelter to the refugees (whose number is growing fast) also became a serious problem.
With regard to the fact that in the past few years Georgia had a rather tight connection with the U.S, the invasion from some aspect had been quite staggering notwithstanding surely not unexpected.
The Russian-Georgian conflict has been festering for years. Moscow has been backing separatist organisations in Georgia. Rebellion governments have been supported in Abkhazia, Arajiva and in South Ossetia too. South Ossetia"s Russian backed own government was tried to be removed by Georgian military forces. According to many international affair experts the Russian government has been waiting for a long time for such a moment, thus turned it out to be the reason for invading Georgia.
The Western European countries and the U.S have publicly denounced against the brutal military use of Russia. President George W. Bush called the invasion "unacceptable". He clearly stated that no military intervention will be made but also said that a firm disapproval towards the war by the EU and the U.S is indispensable. "President Bush said Russia should \"reconsider this irresponsible decision\" and \"live up to its international commitments\" wrote the BBC in its online magazine.
Eventually a cease-fire agreement was signed on the 12th of August. Nevertheless it many reports were made that Russian troops have not stopped destroying targets flouting the cease-fire agreement and moved inner to the country even next to the BTC oil pipeline which is a significant energy source for the Western European countries as well. President Dmitry Medvedev gave his pledge not only once to withdraw the Russian troops. The ignorance of the cease-fire agreement was denied by Moscow.
The West was speaking about the urgent need of sending aid to the small country which was sent on five NATO military ships and was delivered to a Russian controlled port on the 3rd of September.
For the presence of the five ships in the Black Sea Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declared that "Russia"s reaction will be calm. But of course there will be an answer".
The EU and the U.S have expressed their intention in the direction of suspending business with Russia and even rethink the membership of it in the G-8 club, which the strongest industrial nations are only participants in. Since the economy of the EU countries depend in a significant part on Russian resources, the international tension is growing rapidly.
"The partnership with the European Union should not be a hostage to the conflict" over Georgia, Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told reporters on the 2nd of September." wrote the Time on Tuesday.
Áron Suba
ELTE Online
