The small smuggling mob that is the population of South Ossetia is one thing, while the nationalists of Abkhazia are entirely different ... and they don't very much like the idea of getting annexed by Russia. The other day Reuters had an interesting feature piece on the tensions of dependency between Abkhazia and Russia, and today in the Guardian, Jonathan Steele has an interesting quote from Tom de Waal:Can nothing be done to improve matters? Tom de Waal, a respected analyst of the Caucasus, argues that the west should open links to Abkhazia without recognising its independence by taking "status-neutral" measures like supporting a direct shipping route between Abkhazia and Turkey, and getting Georgia to support it. This would not help Georgia recover Abkhazia, but it would lessen Abkhaz ties to Russia.
Steps of this kind would be useful, but they leave the big picture unchanged. Tens of thousands have lost their homes and hundreds their lives in a war for which Saakashvili - in spite of some slaps on the wrist from Obama and Biden - still has not had to pay a serious price.
Dunno what Mr. de Waal is smoking, but "getting Georgia to support it" would require NATO membership. Why doesn't he propose that?
Saakashvili pay a price? How about RUSSIA paying a price? What in the WORLD happened in ABKHAZIA to justify Russian invasion and annexation? NOTHING?! It all occurred in Ossetia, Georgia did NOTHING to merit Russian use of force in Abkhazia, it was just lude, wanton aggression.
Lessen ties to Russia? And what happens, Mr. de Waal, when Russian tanks roll in there too? Is this idiot aware that we were in the process of lessening Georgia's ties to Russia when Russia attacked?
Frankly, this guy strikes me as a dangerous psychotic.
Good comment from de Wall. All we know that Georgia is not an angel. It was Georgia started the war in 1992. It was Georgia sent troops upper Kodor valley in 2006. If somebody looking for agression, it's enough look at the Georgia, no more...
Diane - I don't think anybody is going to pin all the blame on Georgia ... that seems an unreasonable suspension of disbelief.
While the August conflict is complicated in details, with plenty of Georgian missteps, I think you are forgetting that in 1992 the majority of killed and displaced persons from Abkhazia were Georgians.