Georgia conflict "could erupt again" - thinktank

[Mr Crowley]

The absence of U.N. and OSCE monitors from Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia could aggravate tensions and lead to new "full-blown hostilities," a Brussels-based thinktank said Monday. Skip related content
The International Crisis Group said Russia's consolidation of its military presence in both regions, and its refusal to endorse the continuation of U.N. and OSCE monitoring in their current form posed a threat to security.

Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war last August, when Russia crushed a Georgian assault on the breakaway pro-Russian region of South Ossetia, which like Abkhazia threw off Tbilisi's rule in the early 1990s.

"... violent incidents and the lack of an effective security regime in and around the conflict zones of South Ossetia and Abkhazia create a dangerous atmosphere in which extensive fighting could erupt again," the ICG said in a policy briefing.

"Russia has not complied with the main points of the truce, and the sides have not engaged in meaningful negotiations to stabilise the situation."

Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states after the war, and stationed thousands of troops in both regions despite an EU-brokered cease-fire agreement that called on Russian forces to pull back to their pre-war positions.

Georgia conflict "could erupt again" - thinktank - Yahoo! News UK

---------------------------------------------------------------------

No mention of the build-up of American advisors and corporate mercenaries that precipitated the crisis in the first place.

[Drico]

Well Georgia is basically a Russian province at this stage.

btw I don't think that Russia are breaking the armstice agreement, as far as I can remember it entailed 3 crucial elements that basically mean an end to Georgian sovereignity.

1. South Ossetia was annexed by Russia (now an "independant" state after international outcry)
2. Abkhazia would be given "independant" status

In both Russia would station "peace-keepers" and set up military bases

3. In what was left of Georgia Russia would be allowed sent in military patrols. Seriously compromising Georgian sovereignity as you can imagine.

[youngdan]

Good posting Mr Crowley. It is just like when a small little bollox starts a row in a pub. Without a big guy with him he knows enough to keep his mouth shut.

Some fools here are concerned about the Georgians so they should shag off and join them

[odie1kanobe]

AND World War 1 was caused by the shooting dead of some minor Royal in Sarajevo.