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Putin: Georgia could have maintained its territorial integrity
Published: 08 August, 2009, 20:42
TAGS: Breakaway regions, Conflict, Putin, Georgia, Interview, Ossetian War, Politics
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Georgia could have kept Abkhazia and South Ossetia within its territory if it had treated its people with respect.
As Putin pointed out Saturday, speaking from his Sochi residence in the south of Russia, the most important thing in avoiding tragedies similar to last year’s war in South Ossetia is that the people who make decisions must consider the opinion of people who live on the territory.
“Any geopolitical issue cannot be dealt with without people’s will," Putin said. "That’s what the current Georgian administration has forgotten.”
According to the Russian prime minister, to maintain its territorial integrity after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia had to treat the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia with respect.
“What did they do? Exactly the opposite,” Putin continued.
“There’s been military pressure, fewer rights, and in the end – aggression, a crime, which resulted in huge losses. So, we had only one choice – to protect the people and recognize their independence. After we did it, the situation in the Caucasus stabilized,” Putin explained.
08.08.2009, 17:55
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ITN correspondent: “Saakashvili is lunatic”At least some UK correspondents, who were reporting from the Ossetian war, were not able to deliver their personal opinions [critical towards Georgia] through their networks, says Moscow-based journalist Artyom Drabkin. |
08.08.2009, 21:56
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“South Ossetians and Abkhazians do not trust Georgia”Marc Almond from Oxford University explains how after the collapse of the Soviet Union, both South Ossetia and Abkhazia were denied the right of self determination and how the region’s history reflects its present. |
The Georgian attempt to seize South Ossetia was a typical blunder from a armed puppet. Mikheil Saakashvili was advised to attack South Ossetia under the cover of the Olympic Games opening in Beijing, China. For George W. Bush this would have been the crowning glory of his ho hum career. What he thought was that the Russians would not be able to help the South Ossetians in time, if the Georgians had the upper hand. But he not counted on Russia acting so decisively. The Georgian Army of would-be conqueror Mikheil Saakashviliu was caught with its pants down and soundly defeated by the Russian liberation forces. Now is the time for the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to strengthen their resolve and be ready for any further Georgian encroachment on their beloved soil.
Most of Georgian populations will be glad to live under Moscow rule, however due to Saakashvili anti Russia policy cause a lot of division in Georgia. Georgia was part of Soviet, there was many interaction between Russian and Georgian in the last 60 years. There many cross marriages between Russian and Georgian. There are still large number of Georgian people living in Russian. Peoples in Georgia should removed Saakashvili from Georgia and install a Moscow and Washingston friendly President.