«Expert Online»Escalation
Tension on the border between Georgia and Abkhazia is rising. Georgia keeps firing at the Gali Territory and accuses Russia of bringing its troops back to the conflict zone. According to an agreement between Moscow and Sukhum, Russia will defend the republic in case of Georgia’s invasion
Photo: AP
Abkhazia claims that EU monitors that came to substitute Russian peacekeepers do not secure safety in the buffer zone. Firing at Russia’s observation post on October 26 is just one example of the developments it says.
Tbilisi denies the accusations blaming Russia of the incident.
In response, Abkhazia is concentrating its troops on the border and asking UN Security Council “to regard Georgia’s activities objectively” that are described as “subversion and terror against Abkhazia” when EU monitors cannot prevent attacks from Georgia.
What Europeans Can Do
In the meantime, there is no need to expect any special valor from EU observers because their mission does not envisage separating the conflicting parties. Even though Russia had warned that Brussels would be responsible for the safety in the zone, the situation remains the same.
EU monitors are reluctant to react adequately to Georgia’s behavior. According to Bernard Kushner, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the EU wants its monitors to gain access to Abkhazia and S. Ossetia despite resistance from Moscow. “We have not recognized either Abkhazia or S. Ossetia,” he says. “They do not exist for us. However, Georgia does exist. There is huge difference between Russia’s and European approaches.” “If Russia retains its position of force, Crimea may become the Kremlin’s next victim,” Kushner has stated.
Apart from rendering moral support to Georgia, Europe’ Bank of Reconstruction and Development is planning to allocate Georgia $975 million as compensation for the losses caused by the August hostilities.
Nobody is able to predict when the tension may explode.
