ĐỀ TÀI: NATO Ships in Black Sea Raise Alarms in Russia I.Introduction In 1990, Georgia voted to abolish the autonomy of South Ossetia, and by 1991 the ethnic antagonists were fighting. In 1992, Georgia and Russia signed a peace treaty and Russian troops began patrolling the South Ossetia border. That same year, Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia and another war was fought; it ended in 1994 with a treaty between Russia and Georgia. Russian troops then began patrolling that enclave too. In August 8[SUP]th[/SUP], Georgia launched a surprise operation last week to seize control of South Ossetia. Russia sent it’s military into the breakaway republics and bombed Georgia proper. Many Western experts have predicted that Russia would stage some sort of military action since Mikheil Saakashvili was elected president of Georgiain 2004. As part of his platform, he said he wanted to reincorporate the enclaves intoGeorgia. Most experts agreed that Russia would respond with force if that happened. No one knows how far Russia is planning to go, though continued clashes suggest that its goal goes beyond just protecting the enclaves. This News Report Assignment collected information about what both sides, especiallyRussia responded after that incident. The sources are various and mostly come from newspaper and online news. We spend times to watch, read and analyzed them to choose the pieces of news that fit our purpose. Since the work is not too much, dividing it to each group’s member was not easy. But we tried to make those shares to be equal. We keep in touch with each other by the internet, because we didn’t have much time in class, there were other things that needed to be concerned. The toughest part is summarizing the information and arranged them in a logical order. We chose to put the news and summaries in the order of the date. There were some discussion and argument during the process. It took us a lot of time just to solve and find a solution for each person ideas. However, our group still managed to complete this Assignment. There are 5 people in our group: II.Body II.1.Summaries of News: II.1.1.Russia never wants a war According to the former President of USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia did not want this crisis. Russia was dragged into it by the recklessness of the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili who definitely would not have dared to attack without outside support .And Russia had no choice but to react, and the president did it calmly, confidently and firmly, what made all those expected confusion in Moskva disappointed. He stressed that Georgia attacked first, caused thousands of dead to the people of South Ossetia, force them to flee from their home, and yet the Russia was accused of aggression. The expanding of NATO to the East, the assistance in Georgian’s military training of the Western, all the shipping large supply of arms have encourage Georgian’s leader toward a military misadventure. Unfortunately, innocent people had to pay the price. Mr. Gorbachev also mentioned the threats which are from US and EU to isolate Russia, expel her from the G8, and keep her out of WTO are all empty. There is much talk in theUS about rethinking relations with Russia. But the 2 country should consider the interests of the other side and of common security, it may actually help rebuild trust between Russia and the US and allow them to start doing useful together to solve the crisis. 20-8 (New York Times) II.1.2.Once Its rationale, collective defense poses new challenge to a larger NATO NATO foreign ministers strengthened their ties to Georgia on Tuesday and called forRussia to observe a cease-fire and withdraw its troop immediately, vowing that until it does, the alliance won’t continue with business as usual in its relations with Moscow. But they also failed to agree on any specific punitive measures about the Russia-Georgian crisis. All they have done is nothing but a tepid response, which was a promising to establish a NATO-Georgian Council, a big disappointed for Tibsilli. There is now a question to the worthy of this alliance membership. As it has expanded from 5 to 26 countries, including some former Soviet republics, the notion of collective defense is a more complicated than before. European countries will not get into a military confrontation with Russia, even in case one NATO member is attacked, especially if that country is Ukraine or Georgian. The concept of collective defense shall fall apart, which also mean same for NATO. That is why European countries have blocked the US administration’s effort to bring Georgian and Ukraine into the alliance by a condition: no border issue which is impossible for both. Until now, establishing the NATO-Georgian and delaying the NATO-Russia council are everything they can do for now. To find a way out of this crisis, talking is the right thing to do, but if the other side doesn’t implement its promise, there will be strong reactions, according to the French foreign minister. 21-8 (Russia Today) II.1.3.Russia Backs independence of Georgian Enclaves A day after the Russian Parliament’ call, the President, Mr.Medvedev announced the recognizing of 2 enclaves: S.Ossetia and Abkhazia. He said that this was not an easy choice, but the only one. This action deepened strains with the West over the conflict in the economically vital crossroads of the Caucasus and roiled a broader debate over how to respond to separatist movements around the world. The Russia had abided by international law in recognizing the 2 enclaves, and the decision was in part retaliation for the West’s support earlier this year for the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, whichRussia had opposed. The US and its allies denounced the decision, saying that Georgian must not be broken, ad Russia was violating the cease-fire framework that it signed to halt the fighting. Because of the fear that if you wade into one such conflict, it could be used against yourself in a future one, no other big power, or another country followed Moscow’s lead and voiced support for S.O and Abkhazia’s independence. Even the Russia itself has its own problems about secessionist, like in Chechnya. The Russia officials try to explain the reason why Chechnya did not deserve the same right is that Chechnya had been turn into home of international terrorists. Igor Luke, a professor of international relations at Boston University, said that the current situation of this crisis was the result of each superpower trying to emerge to advance its interest and to hurt its rivals. 26-8 (New York Times) II.1.4.NATO Ships in Black Sea Raise Alarms in Russia By Andrew E. Kramer The Russia Navy Force has raised their alarm when the 4 NATO ships sailed into theBlack Sea. A Russia commander said that those vessels now outnumbered the ships in their fleet anchored off the western coast of Georgian. He also added that this action violated a 1936 treaty, the Monteux Convention, which they maintain limits to 3 weeks the time non coastal countries can sail military vessels on the sea. The Russiagovernment accused those NATO ships bringing weapon and other military supplement to support Georgian army under the guise of humanitarian aid. The White House dismissed all assertions and called them ridiculous. They also called for Russia to reserves its decision, and marked that NATO is partner of Russia. The Supreme HQ Allied powers Europe has stated that they could not control the move of every single NATO member. Meanwhile, with many efforts to build support for its action inGeorgian, Russia had little results. Most of its allies remained silence or show no really action. 28-8 (New York Times) II.1.5.SCO Snubs Russian Appeal for Support. A joint declaration from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization offered some support for Russia’s “active role in promoting peace” following a cease-fire, denounced the use of force and called for respect for every country’s territorial integrity. Some other leaders like Iranian went further when accusing the Western of interfering in Central Asian and they formed a observers group to watch out the status of the 2 enclaves. But no alliance member joined Russia in recognizing the independence claims of Georgian’s separatist region, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Each country has its own problems about rebel province, like China’s Tibet or Xinjiang. All of them seemed reluctant to damage reluctant to damage their relations with Europe and the U.S since they already had some investment form the Western in their country in several of ways. Even countries that have been Russia’s most loyalty allies like Cuban or Venezuela didn’t follow the recognizing. A little surprised for Russia because they haven’t been so alone since 1963- the Soviet invasion on Czechoslovakia. Overall, the summit highlightedRussia’s isolation, and they has so far found little unequivocal support, even among stalwart foes of the U.S. 29-8 (Associated Press) II.1.6.Georgia and Russia Cut Diplomatic Ties The Georgian government broke off diplomatic relations with Russia on Friday after a passed law of its Parliament and Russia responded by doing the same. This move was expected with the conflict happened this month. Never before Russia severed formal diplomatic ties with any of the post-Soviet republics since the collapsing of the USSR in 1991. The later diplomatic action will be held at another country as a intermediaries, likeSwitzerland. In other development, Abkhazia asked Russia to represent its interest abroad, which would be include in a so-called friend-ship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaty. A similar agreement has been signed with South-Ossetia. 30-8-08 (New York Times) II.1.7.White House Unveils $1 Billion Georgia Aid Plan In Baku-Azerbaijan, President of the US proposed 1 billion USD in humanitarian and economic assistance on Wednesday to help rebuild Georgia after the war, but he didn’t mention anything about re-equipping its army. This package of aid requires additional approval from the Congress, and will pay at the cost of the worst relations between US and Russia since the cold war. According to the Secretary of State, Ms Rice, $570 millions of the aid will be made available this year, while the rest must depend on approval by a new administration and a new Congress, and this is not a military aid, she stated. That money will be first used to feed and shelter 10.000 people displaced during the fight, and will help rebuild the economic later. The European Union this week also contributed a fund of $750 million in financing. The vice-president of the US has begun his visit to 3 Russia’s neighbors to gain influence and challenge Russia. And he got a new natural gas pipeline to Europe, which mean a lot for E.U in the process of seeking an independent route for energy from Central Asia and the Caspian. 4-9 (Washington Post) II.1.8.Russia Agrees to limited pullout from Georgia. After a 4 hour meeting with France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russia’s President, Mr Medvedev announced that Russia agreed to withdraw its troops by Mid-October from its position in Georgia outside the breakaway region of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and allowed 200 observers from EU to monitor the conflict. But he refused to draw back his decision to recognize the 2 region as independent nations. He said that it was irreversible and irrevocable. Meanwhile, Mr. Sarkozy tried to bring the 2 sides : EU and Russia together but this seemed too hard for him, because Europe has been bitterly divided into 2 parts : some nations like France, German want to remain its economic interests with Russia, and the formerly Communist countries like Poland want a punishment. However, Georgian has refused to sign the cease-fire treaty because some of the matter was already covered in the deal of Aug. 12-according to the president of Georgian. Russiahad received a new success in diplomatic with the recognizing of Nicaragua to the 2 breakaway region. On Monday, the 2 country – Russia and Georgian has carried their dispute over the breakaway enclaves to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Georgian requested for an injunction ordering Russia to stop “terrorizing” ethic Georgians and to allow refugees to return homes. Russia challenged the court’s jurisdiction and asked it to dismiss the Georgian application as expected. 9-9-08 (RIA Novosti) II.1.9.We did everything right, and I’m proud of it – Medvedev. In a frank talk with members of the Valdai Discussion club, President Medvedev has reavealed how Russia will deal with this conflict. He said that this is a hard decision to use force, no one want war, but he need to do what he need to do. Mr Medvedev compared the incident of August 8th with 9/11 of America. “George Bush would do the same” he said. He blamed the US for this diplomatic mistake, for the encouragement they have put into Saakashvili’head : do whatever you want, the Russia won’t meddle. That leader, according to Mr Medvedev is a drug abuser, unpredictable pathological, fussing like a pooch, and won’t be recognized as a partner by Russia. About the energy field, he stressed that Asian ties bring stability to the Western countries; Russia has enough gas to provide what Europe needs. To solve the ahead problems, both sides:Russia and the West must sit back together and discuss to find out the common interest and to understand each other more. 13-9-08 (Russia Today) II.1.10Georgia violated UN charter – UN Assembly chief At the Opening of the UN General Assembly, for the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] time, a UN Assembly chief has said some thing in Russia’s favor: Georgia violated UN charter by invading South Ossetia. Russia’s ambassador to the Un Vitaly Churkin accused Tbisili for trying to prevent humanitarian aid to its breakaway region. Moreover, he called for the US to issue visas to officials from South Ossetia and Abkhazia so they can attend a Security Council meeting this October. 17-9-08 (RIA Novosti and AP) II.2.Discussion In the series of things that happened after the incident of August 8[SUP]th[/SUP], the most important is Russia recognized 2 breakaway regions: South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is the most expected move of Russia within the conflict. II.2.1.Why is it the most important This recognizing and the strike back of Russia on Georgian forces and prospects earlier, like somebody said that they marked the resurrection of a super power of the world. And also, it is a deep, hard impact on the international laws and the world’s order. But there was a new Cold War threat ahead, and changes in relationships between Russiaand the rest of the world. From now on, everything will not happen the way it was before. That is why, this pieces of news is chosen the most important one among 10 other pieces. II.2.2.The Influences The current Russia-West bilateral relationship is at an extreme low. And the often asked question about the return to a new Cold War misses the point. A return to the Cold War is simply impossible. The same historical, ideological, and political imperatives do not exist today. However, the conflict brewing between Russia and the West could become far worse than the US-Soviet standoff of the past. The world survived the Cold War