Darcy, this was a fascinating interview in many ways, but I would strongly disagree with your guest’s views on Russia and especially Russia’s relations with Georgia. I would recommend anyone interested read the excellent 2010 book by Swedish diplomat Per Gahrton, “Georgia: Pawn in the New Great Game.” Georgia is of tremendous interest to America and the West in general. Pipelines from the Caspian Region to the west that avoid Russia would logically go through Georgia. Prior to the so-called Velvet Revolution, George Soros spent $42 million gearing up for the overthrow of democratically elected President Eduard Shevardnadze long before his term ended. (Notice how these colour revolutions, whether orange or rose, seldom seem to generate the nirvana that they promise?) It was the emotionally unstable Saakashvili who launched a war of aggression against South Ossetia in 2008, killing Russian peacekeepers in the initial assault on the South Ossetian capital. This was what sparked the Russo-Georgian War. The Russians were reacting to a Georgian act of aggression. Pace Fergus Hodgson, Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Tbilisi at the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union. However the Russian Federation had always refused to recognize their independence. Following the Russo-Georgian War, this changed, and Russia recognized their independence, although few other countries have done so. The NATO declaration in 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine would become NATO rmembers eventually was highly dysfunctional and has hurt both countries, although not, so far, Georgia as much as Ukraine.
Georgia could, and should, have good relations with both Russia and the European Union. I don’t know if it can ever recover control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Gahrton seemed to believe it was possible. However, if it does, it will only do so if it has good relations with Russia, and it only risks losing more territory if it tries to join NATO.
Darcy, this was a fascinating interview in many ways, but I would strongly disagree with your guest’s views on Russia and especially Russia’s relations with Georgia. I would recommend anyone interested read the excellent 2010 book by Swedish diplomat Per Gahrton, “Georgia: Pawn in the New Great Game.” Georgia is of tremendous interest to America and the West in general. Pipelines from the Caspian Region to the west that avoid Russia would logically go through Georgia. Prior to the so-called Velvet Revolution, George Soros spent $42 million gearing up for the overthrow of democratically elected President Eduard Shevardnadze long before his term ended. (Notice how these colour revolutions, whether orange or rose, seldom seem to generate the nirvana that they promise?) It was the emotionally unstable Saakashvili who launched a war of aggression against South Ossetia in 2008, killing Russian peacekeepers in the initial assault on the South Ossetian capital. This was what sparked the Russo-Georgian War. The Russians were reacting to a Georgian act of aggression. Pace Fergus Hodgson, Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Tbilisi at the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union. However the Russian Federation had always refused to recognize their independence. Following the Russo-Georgian War, this changed, and Russia recognized their independence, although few other countries have done so. The NATO declaration in 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine would become NATO rmembers eventually was highly dysfunctional and has hurt both countries, although not, so far, Georgia as much as Ukraine.
Georgia could, and should, have good relations with both Russia and the European Union. I don’t know if it can ever recover control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Gahrton seemed to believe it was possible. However, if it does, it will only do so if it has good relations with Russia, and it only risks losing more territory if it tries to join NATO.
Thank you for engaging, Andrew. There is a lot to say about the topic, but please know I have read your perspective. Cheers.