PRISONER OF THE CAUCASUS

Has anyone tried to monitor the international media in the past month? If not, then try surfing for half an hour on the Internet and this is the picture you will get: all the world's press is writing about the six-day war in Georgia, its consequences and the international situation it has created. Some are still trying to find out who exactly started the war - Russia or Georgia - while others are looking for the culprits in the West, or to be more precise the USA, and others are voicing anxiety at the sharp polarization in the world and the start of a new cold war. Different approaches, different assessments and mutual recrimination too. It feels as though the war is continuing on the pages of the press and the TV and radio air waves. This is to be expected as the world's politics, information and economy can be said to have been taken prisoner by the Caucasus. Relations between the world's power centres, the situation on the stock exchanges and the future of the international system of law and order very much depend on how events develop in and around this region. 

The events in Georgia have radically changed the tone and language of relations between countries that aspire to be the guardians of the world order. Now, Britain's foreign secretary, David Miliband, can openly accuse Russia of "aggression" towards Georgia while his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, can show his knowledge of non-standard English. British newspaper the Daily Telegraph reports that during a telephone conversation between the Russian and British foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov reacted with fury when Miliband tried to preach to him and shouted "Who are you to f…… lecture me?" Or this is how Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin responded to a question from Le Figaro newspaper: "Mr Prime Minister, in the past few days relations between the United States of America and Russia have deteriorated considerably. What do you expect from the new American administration?" "I expect an improvement in relations. They've spoilt them, so let them make them better," Putin replied. The USA on the other hand thinks that it is Russia that has spoiled everything, so Russia should improve things. But as events show, neither of the sides is planning to take a step towards each other.

Meanwhile, the Caucasus is waiting for peace, a peace that has been broken by the ambitions of the major powers. And today the people who live in Georgia have more right than anyone to say "they spoilt things so let them make them better". French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who chairs the EU at present, is trying to bring the situation under control. But there's no result yet. Paris is accusing Moscow of not implementing the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement on settling the conflict in the Caucasus, while Moscow claims that everything is proceeding according to the plan. "We are counting on the agreements reached with the EU troika being met by our European partners too," the Russian prime minister said. "We are also counting on observers from the OSCE, UN and European Union taking responsibility in the security zone where Russian peacekeepers are today. If this happens, then of course Russia will meet all its obligations and withdraw its peacekeepers, even from this security zone." 

Meanwhile, neighbouring Turkey has also taken the initiative to restore peace in the Caucasus, proposing its stability pact to the countries of the region. This entails the sides undertaking specific obligations to support peace and stability in the region. Literally everyone has welcomed Turkish President Abdullah Gul's initiative - Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. But not everyone is deciding to take on more obligations, especially since many have yet to meet their previous commitments. In this situation one can only wait for everyone to meet their commitments. And the sooner this happens, the better it will be for everyone. The world might then get out of its Caucasian captivity. And there will be no need to square up to one another on the wrestling mat, for which Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin invited French President Nicolas Sarkozy to get in training.