Russia Fights for Peace in Georgia
UN Rejected Earlier Russian Nonviolence Resolution for South Ossetia
Russia signaled her desires to the United Nations only a few days ago. In a vain attempt to gain peace in South Ossetia, the Russians put forth a UN resolution. With a full fledged conflict now raging, it is ironic that the Russian measure presented and ultimately rejected called for non violence. Louis Charbonneau of Reuters reported on August 8th, UN council split on South Ossetia, Russia angry. “…council diplomats said one phrase in it was unacceptable to Georgia…the United States and Europeans. That wording called on all sides in the conflict ‘to renounce the use of force’."
The events unfolding in Georgia have polarized world opinion even though all sides are calling for an end to hostilities. That opinion; however, depends on what side of the issue a nation and its residents are.
- Arabic World – Al Jazeera’s, the Middle East’s largest news network, Alan Fisher, reported on August 10th, “Russia is the main backer of the South Ossetian separatists and the majority of the region's population, who are ethnically distinct from Georgians….” Yet, according to Global Security, “the leading source of background information…in the fields of defense, space, intelligence…” reports “…there are relatively few cultural barriers. Indeed, it can be difficult to distinguish between Ossetians and other Georgians.”
- Israel – Abe Selig, reported in the Jerusalem Post on August 10th, Sara Tzur, a Georgian in Israel said, "South Ossetia is like our Golan Heights…[Georgians are] like the Israelis, and the Russians are like the Syrians.” Baruch Sorokin, a Russian in Israel, told the Post, “"There's an oil pipeline….If the Georgians gave them that, the Russians would stop fighting and abandon the Ossetians immediately. That's all they really want.”
- China– Uncharacteristically China has been mainly silent on the issue. Concerned about the on going Olympics, she is fearful of negative association. However, China Daily, the communist newspaper, reported, "Georgia, a US ally whose troops have been trained by American soldiers, launched the major offensive…” Daniel Schearf of VOA (Voice of America) reported today that Georgia's ambassador to China, Zaza Begashvili, “…would not say how the Chinese responded to the call for help.”
- India – The Times of India reported on August 10th, “Georgia called for a ceasefire…after Russian bombers widened an offensive….” All the officials quoted in the article had powerful pro-Georgia or Russian repudiation remarks.
- Latin America - Anne Barnard reported in the July 23rd issue of The New York Times that Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, “…has made clear that he would be happy to join Russia’s efforts to re-establish itself as a counterweight to the United States.” At the same time Columbia, Brazil and Mexico condemn the invasion.
- USA & The West – Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security advisor, told reporter Nathan Gardels during an interview on August 10th, “Fundamentally at stake is what kind of role Russia will play in the new international system. Unfortunately, Putin is putting Russia on a course that is ominously similar to Stalin's and Hitler's….”
The rhetoric over the problem does not stop the war. With underlying issues aside, Russia can claim that she asked the world to intervene peacefully in the Georgian problem. Unfortunately for Georgians, Ossetians and Russians in the area, the calls for peace were ignored and now Russia is using force for national gains.
Map of Georgia
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Politics & Society
Latest Articles