Blow to sovereignty

A WTO meeting that is expected to officially enlist Russia as one of the organization’s members is scheduled for December, 15. The ratification of all documents will then take a few months. Russia and Georgia signed an agreement withdrawing Georgia’s veto on Russian entry to the WTO a month ago in Geneva with the mediation of Switzerland. The agreement stipulates that international independent observers will control Russia’s border with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. A private company recommended by the arbiter (Switzerland in this case) is to carry out the monitoring.

Both republics – Abkhazia and South Ossetia – are discontent by being left out of such an important decision directly concerning them. The officials of both republics stated that they won’t let any international observers on their territory. South Ossetia's Foreign Ministry commented that Ossetian-Russian trade relations are regulated by international legal norms fro independent states, and the deployment of international observers is not a part of these norms. However, due to the on-going election crisis in the republic, this problem can’t be moved to the top of its government’s agenda and is not in the focus of public attention.

A much stricter response was given by two Abkhaz opposition parties. The Abkhaz People’s Unity Forum, headed by thrice presidential candidate Raul Khadzimba, published an open statement suggested that ‘Georgia tries not only to regain control Abkhaz and South Osseti borders, but over our very states stats. This precedent lowers our independent status, despite the fact that Russia is supposed to stand surety for our sovereignty”. The statement claims that this situation will damage Russain-Abkhaz relations.

Abkhaz War Veterans’ Union also made a statement, saying that the situation with Russian-Georgian agreement on observer deployment is ‘disturbing’. The opposition suggested that the ‘international monitoring’ might be a simple pretext for Georgia to take over Abkhaz and Ossetian state borders and thus make the first step towards reintegrating the republics.

Abkhaz President, Alexander Anquab, also voiced his point of view on the matter. Although he deems the concerns of opposition parties excessive, he is disappointed by the fact that nor his Osseti colleague, nor he himself were consulted by the Russian government prior to the agreement. “We won’t allow any observers or trade cargoes to come and go through our country’s territory without our knowledge or permission”, the President said.

It is too early to estimate possible benefits or losses that the ex-Georgian republics might get from Russia’s membership in the WTO as all its nuances are not yet finalized. However, experts are unanimous in the opinion that Russia made a mistake by taking yet another decision without consulting all interested parties. It seems logical that all trade agreements involving Abkhaz or Ossetian territories should involve the two state’s representatives, however, Abkhaz FM Vyacheslav Chirikba and the Security Council secretary Stanislav Lakoba claim that they received no information on Russian-Georgian WTO agreement apart from that available by media. Russia recognized the two republics’ sovereignty in 2008 and it is surprising why isn’t it trying to promote their role as such on the international scene. Such an attitude makes one doubt Russia’s sincere and unconditional support of the countries’ independence altogether. So in the end, Russia gained uncertain profits from its future WTO membership and risked possible escalation in the region on the eve of the long-expected Sochi Olympics.

Maria Platonova, exclusively to VK