However, the situation has cardinally changed in 11 years: the type of relations between Russia and the West have changed and now Georgia’s supporters have no mechanisms to exercise direct influence on the Kremlin, as they used to when Russia was interested in participating in the European common arms reduction treaty – Moscow suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007.
And even though various speakers condemned Russian policy towards Georgia, the Russian President did not hesitate to leave the Summit sooner that he was expected to and the Russian delegation had the power to veto any project of the Summit’s final declaration if it contained the slightest misgivings about the current situation in the Caucasus. Meanwhile, the Georgian delegation intended to prohibit any project that did not contain demands for Russian troops to withdraw from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The Summit could have failed completely and it was Georgia that had to compromise. The final statement merely stresses the Organization’s devotion to the principles formulated in Helsinki. On the other hand, the declaration does not support Russia’s position either. Thus, the OSCE did not legitimize Russia's actions in August 2008. Therefore, the results of the Astana OSCE Forum could be characterized as a ‘diplomatic draw’. Georgian political expert Joseph Tsintsadze shared his opinion on this subject with VK:
- The Summit has shown us that not every country is ready to condemn Russia for its actions against Georgia. It was virtually impossible to achieve an agreement on such evident issues as the inadmissibility of aggression and occupation.
- Could Georgia use its ‘veto’ to stop the adoption of this final declaration?
- No. Georgia could only express its protest, but not veto the declaration, as that would mean the complete failure of the Summit.
And Georgia could not let that happen. We didn’t want to spoil our relations with our supporters in the OSCE by undermining such an important international event. Georgia didn’t want to offend Kazakhstan, whose organization of the Forum was perfect.
- What would you say about President Saakashvili’s address?
- I think it was adequate. He called on Russia to participate in dialogue, but stressed that Georgia still regards Russian actions as military aggression and occupation. And no one at the Summit wanted to argue with this assessment, apart from Russia. However, the hosts of the Forum wanted it to go as smoothly as possible, so no pointed statements were to be expected in the final declaration.
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi, exclusively to VK.
