Russia has made controversial news for its plans to work on a new barrier dividing Georgia from the disputed region of South Ossetia. It is feared that the new demarcation line could increase tensions in an area still recovering from conflict. Russia’s plans to step up the work comes a few weeks after initial concerns arose over an installation of fences by the Russian troops across the South Ossetian administrative boundary line. Georgia announced their intention to send a statement to the Russian Federation demonstrating their concern over the situation. President Saakashvili raised the issue saying that the ongoing fencing activities were “yet another attempt to further move occupation line” deeper into the Georgian-controlled areas.
Kazaghi, Ten km from Russian border, and in between Chechnya and South Ossetia. author: tigerweet. source: Flickr
The escalating tensions between Russia and Georgia comes in tandem with the release of a study from the Portuguese Institute of International Relations and Security (IPRIS), entitled “The Reluctant Conflict Mediator: EU-Georgia Relations under the Neighborhood Policy”. The study, by Professor Licínia Simão, investigates relations between the European Union and Georgia since the establishment of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) in 2004. Of the platform offered by the ENP and the EU’s role in the Caucasus, particularly Georgia, Simão explains:
“…the ENP represented an important framework for the development of a new partnership between the two actors. The EU’s increased engagement in the South Caucasus region focused largely on Georgia especially by supporting the transition process of the country after the Rose Revolution in 2003, which brought to power new pro-western elites. In this context, institutional and legal reforms were perceived by the EU and its member states as a fundamental step for Georgia’s democratic consolidation, its transformation
as a stable partner, as well as an important contribution of the EU to regional peace in the Caucasus.”
In relation to the ENP’s role in the August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia, Simão defined the ENP’s failure to keep the peace in the region and assist in maintaining stability–perhaps holding some lessons for the future, in light of heightened tensions between the two nations:
“The August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia can be seen as a major setback for the ENP’s goal of providing stability in the neighboring regions of the EU. Indeed, it represented a failure because the EU’s structural approach was unable to balance the long- and short-term pressures on peace.”
Simão’s outlook for the future is perhaps not so hopeful, when it comes to the ENP/EaP role in assisting in Georgia’s peacekeeping, saying:
“…in the absence of a clear political vision as to what the shape of EU-Georgia relations should be in the future, namely in the framework of the ENP/EaP, how can the EU be perceived as a reliable partner and a fundamental stakeholder in regional
peace?”
Simão poses some critical questions in clarifying the EU’s role in the Georgian-Russian situation, as well in relation to Georgia in itself:
“Acknowledging Georgia’s European aspirations, and affirming that Georgia will become a NATO member without setting a timeframe, raises many issues about the long-term vision of the Euro-Atlantic partners for the region. What is the political meaning of the new
Association Agreements being negotiated with the EU? What is the future of Georgia’s relations with NATO? What role are western countries assigning to Russia in this process? Without clear answers to these questions, EU actions on conflict resolution will rather aim at keeping a stable status quo, even if it is one where no peace agreement can be reached.”
Georgia has lashed out against Russia’s construction of fence in South Ossetia, a concern backed by NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who has faulted Russia for the action, saying it was unacceptable, saying:
“Building such fences is a violation of international law. Building fences impedes freedom of movement, it can further inflame tensions, it is simply not acceptable and we urge Russia to live up to her international obligations.”
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/GoldenTent/status/344186921607655424″]
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/342628775936278529″]
Sources: AlJazeera , IPRIS
[mappress mapid=”2307″]
