International Relations: Georgia - Essay Example

Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Georgia international relations The country of Georgia is a sovereign in the region of Eurasia known as Caucasus. The country’s location is at crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia and it is also bounded by Black sea to the west, Armenia to the west, Russia to the north, turkey to the northwest and Azerbaijan to the southeast. Tbilisi is the Georgian’s capital. The area coverage of Georgia is 69,700 and around 20% of the country’s territory is not under control of the Georgian government. The country’s terrain is mostly mountainous with a moderate climate which is usually mild at the coast of the Black sea and cold winter in mountainous regions. The republic of Georgia is semi-presidential and unitary with representative democracy government elections. This country was unified initially as a kingdom under the dynasty of Bagrationi during the 9th to 10th century. Georgia was then fragmented by the end of 1490 into various petty principalities and kingdoms until it was finally annexed in 1801 by Russian empire. After searching for independence in 1918 to 1921 with the Georgian democratic republic, it became part of soviet republic for Transcaucasia social federation between 1918 and 1921. It then led to the formation of the republic of Georgian soviet socialist up to the time of Soviet Union dissolution (O'Dwyer 63). The current Georgian republic became independent in 1991 and its first president made Georgian nationalism stronger and vowed to declare the authority of Tbilisi over south Ossetia and Abkhazia. The then president was overthrown and the country engaged into a civil war that lasted for three years. Russia supported south Ossetia and Abkhazia until the two attained independence that is de facto from the republic of Georgia. These de facto independent regions came up from the Ossetia war involving Russia and Georgia. This war led to conflict for Georgia against Russia and the two de facto regions where this tension remain unresolved currently. The location of Georgia between Russia, black sea, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia makes this country of strategic importance regardless of its size. However, the current history about the relationship of Georgia with Russia has been observed to be at it lowest point due to their different opinions about the Ossetia and Abkhazian regions (Ratliff 43). This essay explains the political views and events between this country and Russia and also its relations with surrounding countries. On April 2008, the unmanned and unarmed Georgian aerial vehicle was taken down in Abkhazian which is one of the conflict zones arising from the differences between Russia and Georgia. Georgia through its defense ministry released a video which depicted that the shooting of the drone was done by Russia. Georgia claimed that the jet used for shooting was directed from Gudauta then went back to Russia. This raised controversy between Russia and Georgia as Russia through its foreign affairs ministry denied the allegations and accused Georgia for violating the agreement about Abkhazia’s resolutions made by United Nations as they deployed the drone that can be used as a weapon. The Security Council for United Nations failed to solve the dispute but western states such as United States, Germany, France and United Kingdom expressed their concern on its moves on Abkhazia telling Moscow to consider reversing or not implementing its legalization of ties with south Ossetia and Abkhazia. This made Russia to state that it will never reverse its plans. Later on May 2008, a conclusion from an independent investigation from U.N. mission was released and it confirmed that Georgia video footage was authentic saying that Russian jet was responsible for Georgian drone destruction. From the Security Council’s conclusion, the Georgian government hailed the results of the report while on the other hand, Russian government dismissed the conclusion. This decision still affects the relationship between the two (De Haas 112). On August, 2008, Georgian troops were in the mission of retaking the regions that were in the process of breaking away. Georgia launched an offensive which involved the Tskhinvali heavy bombardment. The forces from Russia then entered in Abkhazia and South Ossetia leading to an intense four days fight which resulted to expulsion of Georgian forces from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. From Abkhazia, Russia went on raiding the bases belonging to Georgia leading to bombing of logistical and military targets in Georgia. This raid led to the defeat of Georgian forces. The defeat resulted to agreement between Russia and Georgia to cease fire but later Russia violated the agreement and advanced the attack then took and destroyed Georgia’s military equipment. Georgia’s forces gained strength after damaging and the Russian forces continued to build military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This conflict grew more as Georgian government made an attempt to stop the great black market that takes place between Russia and South Ossetia. This conflict grew more and more and it seems it may be far from being resolved (BBC). On 25 August of year 2008, the Russian assembly voted unanimously to urge its president to recognize the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. On the day that followed, the Russian president agreed to sign a decree which officially recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. On contrary Georgia which harbors the two entities, rejected the separation move terming it as its territory annexation. In addition, western nations such as Germany and the United States were also opposed to the Russian decision. In response to the decision made by Russia, Georgia announced that is had decided to cut all the diplomatic relationships existing between them. The conflicts existing between Georgia, Russia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions made the addressing of environmental issues in Georgia very difficult. The negative impacts on environment as a result of this conflict include soil degradation, deforestation and pollution from hazardous wastes that has become unmanageable (US department of state). On February to April 2010, Moscow and the de facto South Ossetia and the de facto Abkhazia authorities made agreement to establish military bases for Russia in their regions which could last for 49 years. According to Georgian government, this agreement was inconsistent with the August cease fire terms of agreement that was negotiated and signed by Russian president, Georgian president and the president of France. This august agreement on cease fire called for both parties to keep away from an alternative to use force, withdrawing forces in the regions under conflict, provision of free humanitarian access to the regions that wants separation and a discussion that is open and international on issues of stability and security in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. According to these agreements, United Nations, European Union and OSCE co host the talks about stability and security arrangements in the two de facto with representatives from Georgia, Russia and the authorities of the de facto regions (BBC). On November 2010, in observance of the August cease fire agreement made, the Georgian government pledged to the European Union that it will abide to a unilateral non use of force. The Georgian government also observed that the authorities who are de facto continued in restriction of rights, mainly the Georgian’s right to participate or to vote in a political process and also to exercise their basic rights such as registration of business, ownership of property and travelling. The Georgian government also stated that the ethnic Georgians suffered from harassment by the Russian forces and Abkhaz, lack of funding in the fields of maintenance of infrastructure and limitation of instruction on Georgian language in the district schools around Gali (BBC). In the field of economics, Georgia stated that it is facing challenges in expansion of its trade. This was as a result of the conflicts between the country and Russia. For instance, in 2006, Russia imposed a ban on any exports of vegetables, wines, fruits and mineral water from Georgia and also it eliminated issuance of visa and all direct transportation links were severed (Weir). With time, Georgia has restructured its relations in trade towards Middle East, European Union, North America, Eastern Europe and more. Its trade turn over has been observed to be increasing gradually with a 19% increase in 2010 from the previous year. Turkey is the largest trading partner for Georgia and it accounts for exports of approximately $ 1.1 billion. Azerbaijan is the second Georgia’s largest partner in trade accounting for around $ 700 million on exports. The United States’ trade with Georgia account for approximately $ 350 on exports in 2010. The United States relations with Georgia codified the charter on the strategic partnership which was signed in Washington D.C on 22nd June, 2009. This agreement focused on four areas of priority which are: security and defense; democracy; trade economic and issues on energy; and cultural exchanges and people to people. Since the time that the charter was signed, the mutual cooperation between Georgia and United States have continued to be strong based on the support from United States on the sovereignty and integrity of Georgia’s territory and its commitment on further reforms on democracy (US department of state). Conclusion The location of Georgia between Russia, black sea, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia makes this country of strategic importance regardless of its size. However, there have been tensions between Russia and Georgia which have existed for a long period. These conflicts have been heightened by the de facto secession of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia that has been supported by Russia. Russia signed the agreement on recognition of these two as de facto states leading to crisis such as the South Ossetia war, Georgia’s drone incident and Russian recognition on the secession of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. These conflicts have affected Georgia’s economy and in addition, they have negatively impacted on Georgia’s environment which has resulted to soil degradation, deforestation and pollution from hazardous wastes that are becoming unmanageable. On the other hand, Georgia has improved its relations with other countries surrounding it with observed increase in trade such as Turkey, Azerbaijan. Georgia has also signed agreement with the United States which has strengthened the sovereignty and integrity of its territory and commitment on further reforms on democracy. This agreement focused on four areas of priority which are: security and defense; democracy; trade economic and issues on energy; and cultural exchanges and people to people. Work cited BBC. Timeline: Georgia: A chronology of key events. 9 November 2011. Web. 2nd Dec. 2011 De Haas, M. NATO-Russia Relations after the Georgian Conflict: New York: Cengage, 2010. Print. O'Dwyer, M. Georgia History in Fiction. The Quest for Identity in the Civil War Novels of Julien Green. Paris.1998. print Gvosdev, Nikolas, K. Imperial policies and perspectives towards Georgia.Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000. Print Ratliff, R. South Ossetian Separatism in Georgia. May 2006 US department of state. Background Note: Georgia. September 2, 2011. Web. 2nd Dec. 2011 Weir, F. Russia-Georgia dispute escalates. August 27, 2007. Web. 2nd Dec. 2011 Read More