Ossetians Need an Autonomy Agreement!

[nathanael]

First, I want everything done that the hostilities stop right now. This is imperative for the innocent civilians. The European Union should put its money where its mouth is, and help arrange a ceasefire and subsequent mediation. I favor an autonomy agreement between the two Ossetias and Georgia. This is the direction in which the negotiations ought to proceed. Russia, EU, and the U.S. should constitute a mediation body immediately. As far as Dr. Strok's remarks, as far as I am concerned they hold neither water, nor promise to stop this bloodshed (Dr. Strok, a Professor of History, has accused Georgia of "genocide" on Newsvine). On the contrary, if this conflict drags on, Chechnya will see an opportunity to resurrect its national struggle, which this Doctor also denies. Moreover, it is premature to accuse anyone of genocide. This situation is a case of the Russian North Caucasus region getting smelly over again due to the fact that the Cold War quagmire has never been eliminated. The other hidden possibility which no media has mentioned, is the involvement of Iran. The Ossetians are probably being manipulated by Ahmadinejad. After all, these people, regardless their present nationality, are ethnically Iranian. Iran may have some hidden stake in the pipeline that connects Baku. I think that the Georgians should ask the U.S. about the above-mentioned autonomy option. I don't see many other promising alternatives. I also think that the State Department should look into the possible Iranian "angle."

[Jaga]

+++The Ossetians are probably being manipulated by Ahmadinejad+++

Hi Nathanael,

thanks for your perspective on Ossetia. The tensions in this regions are not from yesterday. This is Kaukaz, where many national groups coexist and the wars are as frequent there as in the Yugoslavia region.

Ossetia is an autonomous republic inside Georgia. Georgian president decided that the beginnig of olympic is a good time to get rid of the autonomy of Ossetia and send Georgian army there. Russia reacted...

So, there is no any innocent victim here - like Georgia or Russia or even Ossetia. But Iran is definitively not the main player

[Jaga]

here is a short story of the recent conflict:

The 2008 South Ossetia War started in August 2008 after days of heavy fighting between Georgian forces and pro-Russia South Ossetian separatists. After agreeing to a ceasefire, on 7 August Georgia launched a surprise military operation to take the town of Tskhinvali, the capital of the unrecognised Republic of South Ossetia (a breakaway region of Georgia).[17][18] On 8 August, Russia responded by moving its troops across the border, bringing tanks and artillery into Tskhinvali

[Atlantis5]

Aug 9, 2008 13:32:59 GMT -7 Jaga said:

here is a short story of the recent conflict:

The 2008 South Ossetia War started in August 2008 after days of heavy fighting between Georgian forces and pro-Russia South Ossetian separatists. After agreeing to a ceasefire, on 7 August Georgia launched a surprise military operation to take the town of Tskhinvali, the capital of the unrecognised Republic of South Ossetia (a breakaway region of Georgia).[17][18] On 8 August, Russia responded by moving its troops across the border, bringing tanks and artillery into Tskhinvali

Thank you Jaga, for you are very correct. This is a situation of definitely not of Iran.

It is a situation between Russian forces and Georgia. For of this date: 09-August 2008 {03:20} Russian aircraft have begun bombing operations against Georgian port of Poti {Black Sea} and the military base of Senaki. This is on the surface, a confusing war situation, but not so much if logic is used.

The Georgian President {Saakashvili} is presenting his military actions {against South Ossetia} as legal and righteous, and he is correct. But, he is wrong.

Although The Republic of South Ossetia has never been recognized internationally, and formally belongs to the Georgian State even to the factual loss of control for over 15 years, in-as-so, most all residents {Ossetian} hold Russian passports.

What has occurred and is currant, is: Russian involvement in South Ossetia, amounts to a declaration of war against Georgia.

The result of cause and effect for the moment is: Martial law has been imposed in Georgia. This in self-provides their president, more power of civil authority to further impose what ever options he feels necessary for protection of the state.

Charles