Russia, Moscow, 16 May / Trend corr R. Agayev, N. Kirtskhalia/ Moscow and Tbilisi accuse each other of provocations and aggression due to the situation in Abkhazia and do not rule out escalation of tensions in the region as far as restoration of military operations.
"Presently, Russian peacekeepers in the area of Georgian-Abkhazian conflict contain Georgia's aggressive intensions. But if Georgia attacks Abkhazia and South Ossetia, war will be inevitable," Russian expert Mikhail Aleksandrov, Head of the Caucasus studies department, the Institute of CIS countries, said.
At the meeting of Russia-NATO Council in Brussels, Chief of the Russian General Staff Yuri Baluevski called on NATO countries to take measuresagainst militarization of Georgia and warned that military conflict in the region is inevitable. "That will happen in case armaments build-up is not stopped," he said. On 15 May, Russian Defence Ministry placed on its web-site the data about military aid rendered to Georgia by NATO countries.
"The West speaks a lot about peacekeeping activities in Georgia's conflicting areas, but anyway supplies it with armaments, thus creating objective prerequisites for Georgia to levy war against Abkhazia and South Ossetia," Mikhail Aleksandrov said to Trend on 16 May.
Aleksandrov said that West shows very bad reaction to introduction of additional peacekeeping forces to Abkhazia. "So, it seems like double standards are applied. On the one hand, Georgia is supplied with armaments; on the other hand, obstacles are created for Russian peacekeepers operating in the conflicting areas. So, the West is making Georgia strong enough to be able to levy war in Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he said.
Aleksandrov believes the policy is very dangerous and it can lead to reciprocal measures from Russia. " Russia may render assistance to Iraqi rebels and Talibs in Afghanistan fighting against USA. If the States keep on like that, that will mean return to the Cold War provoked by the States," he said.
Georgia has a right to restore its territorial integrity, but not in a military way as methods of restoration of the territorial integrity including ethnic cleansing and war are inadmissible for the international law. Kosovo precedent can serve as an example in this regard where NATO forces were used to make Serbia to withdraw its forces from Kosovo, expert said.
According to political expert, Georgia held serious talks neither with Abkhazia nor Ossetia. "All Georgia's proposals were not serious and did not differ from the plan of Beriya - autonomy for Abkhazia within Georgia. It can not offer Abkhazia more than that which is, of course, is inadmissible for Abkhazians. Abkhazia should have broader status which Georgia has not offered yet," Aleksandrov said.
"The tension in its relations with Georgia will lead to the fact that Russia will isolate itself, it will not become a mediator, but violator of the democratic principles and participant of the conflicts," stated Shota Malashiya, the chairman of temporary parliament commission on restoration of territorial integrity of Georgia.
"Unlike its northern neighbor [ Russia], the aggravation of relations is not good for Georgia," Malashkhiya said to Trend . According to expert, majority of the negative factors regarding Georgia-Russia relations are caused by aggressive moves of Moscow and rise in number of the Russian peacekeepers in Georgia-Abkhazia conflict zone without Tbilisi's knowledge.
" Moscow is not only isolating itself from the international community which obviously supports Georgia, but also creates problems within its territories," the chairman said. Tbilisi has not only verbal, but also real support of the international organizations, he said. "This support will result in the restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity in the near future which will be a happy end of the current confrontation," he said.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, former parts of Georgia SSR, declared their independence after demise of USSR. Unsuccessful talks are being held following the armed conflict that deprived Tbilisi of the control over these territories. They have been striving for recognition of their independence while Georgia considers them to be its constituent part and offers them a large autonomy.