02.11.11 Menas Borders
Georgia and Russia come closer to border agreement
Russia and Georgia are closing in on a deal which would settle a tense border
situation, turn a new page on their hostile post-war relationship, and
facilitate
Russia's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Georgia has blocked Russia's entry into the WTO for years as a result of
punitive import bans which Russia has imposed on Georgian goods over the past
decade,
as well as the bitter five day war between them in 2008. The Georgian veto has
angered Russia and contributed to its poor relations with the West.
One of Tbilisi's key demands before it lifts its veto is the introduction of
international monitors on its borders with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the two
breakaway provinces backed by Moscow. The monitors would check goods going in
and
out of the regions, which Georgia claims are smuggling hubs.
Switzerland, which acts as a mediator between Moscow and Tbilisi on a number of
issues, has now proposed a compromise solution which seems to be acceptable to
both sides. Under the Swiss deal, the borders will be monitored by private
contractors, hired by neutral third parties, rather than representatives of
international agencies or other governments.
The compromise is carefully tailored to avoid any diplomatic headaches. The
contractors will be deployed on the Georgian side of the borders with Abkhazia
and
South Ossetia, as well as on the Russian side of the boundary with both
enclaves.
This would ensure that they were not stationed within the breakaway regions
themselves, which would be seen as legitimising their de facto independence in
both
Tbilisi and in Brussels. A third group of monitors would be based on the
Russia-Georgia border itself.
Although Georgian officials will insist otherwise, the compromise – if agreed –
would essentially confirm acceptance of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian
borders. Ever since Russian forces backed by local militias deployed there in
force at
the end of the war, the boundary situation has been fluid and unsettled. Border
outposts have been moved back and forth, and shooting incidents still
occasionally occur. EU monitors have played a limited role in keeping the peace.
The deal is still being fine-tuned but is almost certain to be passed. It will
reduce some of the broader tensions between Russia and Georgia and will also
help
to cement the reality on the ground – that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are now
entirely separate entities with which Georgia has to deal with.
Sources: New York Times, Civil Georgia, Reuters