Moscow and Washington approaching towards Cold War

Moscow and Washington again approaching towards Cold War


Russia and Georgia have shut down their embassies in each other’s capital following Tbilisi’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with Moscow on September 2 following Russia’s occupation of parts of the country and recognition of two rebel regions. Georgian parliament unanimously approved a resolution lifting the state of war in Georgia. A state of emergency is declared on those Georgian territories where Russian occupation forces are still present including Abkhazia and the former South Ossetia- autonomous district. The state of war was declared on August 9 as Russia bombed the country and the Georgian and Russian armies battled for control of South Ossetia, a Moscow backed breakaway region. Russia sent tanks and troops into Georgian territory in what officials say was a response to a Geroian offensive on August 7 to retake South Ossetia.

Moscow withdrew the bulk of its forces from Georgia under a French-brokered ceasefire agreement but thousands of Russian troops remain deployed which they say peacekeepers. Russia later recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia another breakaway region, as independent states drawing condemnation from Georgia and many Western countries. On September 4, Dick Cheney Vice President of the United States, a hawk and one of Moscow’s hardest critics, visited Georgia since Tbilisi tires to retake breakaway region of South Ossetia by force. Cheney said , “After your nation won its freedom in the Rose Revolution, America came to the aid of this courageous young democracy, referring to the peaceful revolution in 2003 which brought Georgia’s pro-western president Mihel Saakashvilli to power.We are doing so again as you work to overcome an invasion of your sovereign territory and an illegitimate, unilateral attempt to change your country’s borders by force that has been universally condemned by the free world. “ He continued “Russia’s actions have cast grave doubt on Russia’s intention and on its reliability as an international partner—not just in Georgia but across the region and indeed throughout the international system”. Cheny’s visit is certain to rite the Kremlin which has accused Washington of fuelling tensions by emboldening Saakashivili a US-educated lawyer with close ties to the administration of Bush. Both Azerbaijan and Georgia are links in the chain of Western –backed energy corridor bypassing Russia which the West fears could be in jeopardy following the Kremlin’s military thrust into Georgia.


European Union foreign ministers traveled together via high speed train from Paris to Avignon on Septemerb 5 in a show of unity over Georgian crisis ahead of crucial trip to Moscow by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. 26 out of 27 EU foreign ministers were to arrive in Avignon South Franch via train from Paris. “We will continue this weekend to prepare matter ahead of a crucial meeting in Moscow on September 8 between Sarkozy and Russian counterpart Dmitry Dedevdev.” EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana said.
In this meeting Georgian president Mikhai Saakashvili cautiously endorsed a deal to pull out Russian troops but insisted any final settlement with Russia must respect his country’s territorial integrity. He made it clear that he still considers the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia part of his country. He says “there is no way Georgian will ever give up a piece of its sovereignty, a piece of territory”. But in contrast Russia established diplomatic ties on September 9 with Abkahazia and South Ossetia promising to keep thousands of Russian troops in the breakaway Georgian regions for a long time to come. The move drew a furious response in the Georgian capital Tbilisi where Deputy Foreign Minister Giga Bokeria described it as ‘ yet another step in the annexation of Georgia’s sovereign territories’.

At an EU summit on September 7 EU leaders froze talks on a new strategic pact with Moscow and said they would review all ties following Russia’s refusal to pull its troops out of Georgian following fighting there last month. Meeting is a manifestation of EU unity and clear message to the Russian Federation of its wish to establish relations based on solid and mutual respect.

China, Kazakhastan, Kyrgyztan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan voiced support for Russia’s active role in resolving the conflict in Georgia according to the draft of a joint statement released by Kremlin.Leaders from the countries met in the Tajik capital of Dushambe in the Sanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional group set up in 2001 to counter Nato influence in the strategic control of Asia region.

“We deplore Russia’s excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia” said the statement from Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Japan and the United States. Former German president Edwrad Shevardnadze warned meanwhile Russia’s recognition of the regions would boomerang on Moscow in an interview with Ashahi Shimbun, the popular and leading daily of Japan. It will encourage separatist movement within ethnically diverse Russia.

In moves evocative of Cold War cat and mouse games US military ship carrying humanitarian aid and docked at the southern Georgian port and Russian sent a missile cruse and two other ships to a port farther north in a show of force. Russian Agricultural Minister said that Moscow could cut poultry and port import quotas by hundreds of tons hitting American producers hard and thereby raising prices for American shoppers. Moscow has reacted angrily to Western criticism saying it fails to reorganize that Moscow used military force only in response to a Georgian attack against South Ossetia where tens of thousands of Russian citizens live. Russia accused the West of ratcheting up tensions in the Black Sea with an increased Nato naval presence and warned against isolating Moscow over the conflict in Georgia. It’s not a common practice to deliver humanitarian aids using battle ships, says Moscow. Georgia allowed Russian peacekeepers to operate in Abkahazia under 1994 Moscow agreement and in South Ossetia under the 1992 Dagonys Agreement. Now Georgia demands the immediate withdrawal of the peacekeepers from Abkahazia and South Ossetia regions and their replacement with neutral international peacekeepers.

Some 2300 people have registered as internally displaced in the town of Gori and 800 of them are staying in a tent camp erected earlier in the week- UN High Commissioner for Refugees Spokesman Helene Caux told journalists. The newly displaced in Gori all have stories of intimations including boastings by the militia in buffer zone villages. People talked about militias as interesting the village shooting in the air harassing the inhabitants and looting their properties.

Russia could end all cooperation with Nato if the alliance moved to grant Georgian membership RIA Novosti, state news agency comments. “ From a moral-political point of view , accepting Georgia to MAP would look like Nato moving to the side of the aggressor”-Dmitry Rogozin said referring to grant Georgi’a Nato’s Membership Action Plan status.

The resolution that was adopted at the Bucharest summit that said Georgia and Ukraine will become members of Nato Cheney last week vowed that Wahisington would support for Baku, Tblisi and Kiev and urged Nato to unite in order to ward off a return of ‘time-drawing’ in Europe.At April summit Nato leaders agreed on statement saying Nato expansion and its support of a planned US anti-missile system in Czech Republic and Poland is a ‘strategic error’. Last month Moscow announced a suspension of cooperation with Nato in a number of areas such as freezing visits to Russia by Nato officials and suspension of joint military exercises. Meanwhile, US confirmed that Georgia and Ukraine will become member of Nato. It shows that Moscow and Washington slides into acrimonious relationship inviting a cold war.


Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager-Brac Education Programme, PACE
Phone: 9355253 (home), 01714-091431(cell)
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com