Georgia prepared to declare war against Russia

The parliament of Georgia, a republic of the former Soviet Union, has recently passed the decree denouncing the activities of Russian peacemakers in the conflict zone between Georgia and the unrecognized republic of South Ossetia. Deputies of the Georgian parliament commissioned the government of the republic to revise the adequate agreements, which made the deployment of Russian peacemakers in the South Ossetia possible. The passed decree referred to their activities in the area as an “annexation attempt.”

Photo: Georgia prepared to declare war against Russia

Georgia prepared to declare war against Russia

In addition, the parliament asked the government to attract the international peacemaking contingent to the operation too. “To avoid a possible destabilization of the situation and to maintain peace and stability in the embattled region the government of Georgia will establish contacts with international organization and allied states with a view to start a real peacemaking process,” a statement from the Georgian parliament said.

The decree was approved on February 15^th. The Georgian Minister for Regulation of Conflicts, Georgy Khaindrava, left for Moscow the next day to explain the essence of the new decree to the Russian administration. “We must at least remove the negative factor in the relations between Russia and Georgia,” the minister said. It is worthy of note that Mr. Khaindrava had previously referred to Russia as a “fascist state.”

Mr. Khaindrava apparently has an example to follow at this point. The President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili delivered an enthusiastic speech to the deputies of the republic's parliament of Tuesday. As usual, the speech could be summarized as follows: “ Georgia will be just fine really soon.” According to the Georgian president, the “bright future” will come to Georgia in 2008. This will be the time when Georgia will have a good chance to become a NATO member, Saakashvili believes. According to the Georgian president, the republic has no right to end the ongoing reforms because this is a mission which has been entrusted to Georgia by God. The Georgian president gave an example of God's participation in Georgia's fate: “Someone threw a grenade at George W. Bush in Tbilisi ? There were only three percent of chances for it to explode. It did not. The truth is on our side and we are on the side of truth and kindness. Evil will never defeat truth and kindness,” Mikhail Saakashvili said.

The head of state’s optimism has obviously inspired the deputies.

State officials from South Ossetia and Abkhazia have had absolutely different reactions to Tbilisi's initiatives. The two unrecognized republics are strongly against the withdrawal of the Russian peacemaking contingent from their territories. Abkhazian and Ossetian politicians believe that Georgia is preparing for a military action. Abkhazia has already confirmed its readiness to support South Ossetia in the event Georgia starts a military conflict.

Russia's reaction to Georgia’s daring moves was rather inexpressive. “The peacemakers will remain in the conflict zone,” a spokesman for the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs said. In fact, the structure of the peacemaking mission in the region can be revised and changed only with Russia 's and South Ossetia ’s participation.

Oleg Artyukov