Georgian President Addresses Breakaway Regions

Steady State comments on a televised address given by Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili to inhabitants of the country’s two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, the blog says that apart from at times of clashes, there is little actual dialogue occurring between the sides and that Saakashvili fails to understand one important reality. That is, that Abkhazians and South Ossetians show no sign of wanting to be reintegrated back into Georgia.

Saakashvili underlined that the “reign of separatist, corrupted and criminal groups” is not a choice of the population living there — meaning that decisions against the Georgian statehood are made somewhere else.

This perception sinks into a comforting fantasy: the Abkhaz and South Ossetians are confused, brainwashed allies who really wish to participate in Georgian state building, but their Russian-puppet leadership prevents them from pursuing their true desires. This view is unfortunately far from reality.

[…]

Yes, the Russians are villains and practically use these breakaway republics as garrisons in the Caucasus. Yes, if there was an international peacekeeping force in the conflict zones things would be much calmer. Yes, its true that Russia’s backing of Abkhazia’s independence might one day encourage its own ethnic minorities to seek independence.

And yet, the vast majority of the population in the breakaway republics remains strongly opposed to living within the common Georgian state. Georgia’s initiatives such as establishing a youth camp near the conflict zone in Abkhazia (Ganmukhuri) or bringing Boney M to South Ossetia, either make things worse, or have no effect on rebuilding ties whatsoever. Every single time there is an interaction between the sides, it is related to a recent shoot out in the conflict zone, a shot down of a plane, burning of the houses, etc. Nothing positive.

So, is there really anyone listening to Saakashvili’s address?