HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
http://www.russiajournal.ru/news/index.shtml?nd=12311#n12311 The Russia Journal March 18, 2002 18:35 [Monday 18th March, 2002] Abkhazia fearful about US in Georgia SUKHUMI [Reuters] - Plans by the United States to take its anti-terrorism drive to Georgia is bad news for a tiny breakaway territory on the Black Sea called Abkhazia. Washington says it is sending military instructors to Georgia to train local armed forces to flush out guerrillas with suspected links to the al Qaeda network who could be hiding in the lawless Pankisi Gorge. But for Abkhazia, a citrus-growing region that seceded from Georgia after a bloody conflict in 1993, the move could spell trouble for its drive to independence. Many in Abkhazia fear Georgia will inevitably one day use U.S.-trained special forces to try to retake it. "That Georgia brings in military units from one or another country - that is its own business. But when this is done to solve our dispute, then we see this very negatively," said Anri Dzhergenia, Abkhazia's "prime minister", in an interview. And disturbingly for the small territory with a population estimated between 150,000 and 300,000, the U.S. move comes amid ambiguous signals from big neighbour Russia - Abkhazia's only potential ally in a lonely world. Russian President Vladimir Putin has avoided involvement in the Abkhaz problem, knowing he could be walking into a political minefield in the Caucasus where he faces a major separatist problem in Chechnya. TRAINERS EXPECTED SOON The U.S. military instructors are expected any day now in Georgia to begin training forces for counter-insurgency work in the Pankisi Gorge. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has avoided making any link with Abkhazia, which inflicted a humiliating defeat on Georgian forces in 1993. He says the Abkhaz problem can be solved only by diplomatic means with the use of force only a last resort. But Abkhaz officials in the beach-front capital Sukhumi, whose ravaged buildings testify to the ferocity of the war nine years ago, showed only disdain for Shevardnadze's policy. They refer to what they say are regular attempts by Georgian units to penetrate into Abkhaz territory. They are sure that U.S.-trained forces will ultimately be used against them to try to seize back Abkhaz territory. "Those particular units (to be trained by the United States) are powerful and they will operate here in various ways. We have reliable information about this," said Astamur Tarba, Abkhazia's chief of security. LOOKING TO RUSSIA Abkhazia pushed out Georgian forces in 1993 with arms from Russia and reinforced by units of Chechen fighters. But its independence claim has failed to win recognition by any state. A United Nations peace process, based on the premise that Abkhazia is part of Georgia, holds little attraction for Abkhaz authorities. So Abkhazia has looked increasingly to Russia, which has a military base in the territory and maintains 1,500 peacekeepers there, as relations with Georgia have worsened. It has proposed association status while retaining sovereignty. "The vector of our interests is directed towards the Russian Federation and not towards Georgia," said Astamur Taniya, an aide to Abkhaz leader Vladislav Ardzinba. Russia turns a blind eye to sanctions agreed by the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States. Abkhazia uses the rouble as currency and thousands of Russian tourists flock to the sub-tropical territory in summer across the border to the north. Russia's parliament is sympathetic to Abkhazia's overtures for association status. But Putin has avoided involvement, knowing any false move could spark a chain reaction in the tinderbox region. He has shrugged off the U.S. military training plan in Georgia as "no tragedy" for Russian interests. Officials in Sukhumi acknowledged that developments have not gone in their favour but they were adamant there would be no move back towards Georgia. They remained firmly committed to independence and pointed to improvements in their threadbare economy. Officials drew comfort from a U.N. Security Council resolution referring to the right of Palestinians to have a state. "This is an age when new states are being recognised," one official said. /Reuters/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
