Cheney to visit war-torn Georgia next week

updated 1:00 p.m. ET Aug. 25, 2008

MOSCOW - Russia’s parliament voted unanimously Monday to urge the president to recognize the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway regions, stoking further tensions between Moscow and the small Caucasus nation’s Western allies.

The votes by both chambers of Russia’s parliament, which were not legally binding, come as the White House announced Vice President Dick Cheney would travel to three former Soviet republics next week — Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

“Russia’s historic role of the guarantor of peace in the Caucasus has increased,” said Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the lower chamber. “The Caucasus has always been and will remain the zone of Russia’s strategic interests.”

Reaction from the West was swift. The United States said Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia "would be unacceptable."

"Russia needs to respect the territorial integrity of Georgia," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

The continued presence of Russian troops in Georgia after a lightning war over the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has sunk relations between Russia and the West to a post-Cold War low. Western nations have accused Russia of reneging on its commitment to withdraw forces from U.S.-allied Georgia.

The European Union immediately declared after the Russian vote that South Ossetia and Abkhazia should remain in Georgia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said recognizing the two separatist provinces would create a “very difficult, critical situation” in regard to Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Few details on Cheney's trip
The vice president’s office described Cheney’s trip, which begins Sept. 2 and also includes a stop in Italy, where the U.S. has a major base, only in the broadest terms, saying President Bush wants his No. 2 to consult with key partners on matters of mutual interest.

Experts say the Russian parliament’s blessing of the Georgian separatists gives the Kremlin extra leverage as Russia tries to reassert its influence in the former Soviet republics and resist moves by Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO.

Currently, neither Russia nor any other U.N. member recognizes the two provinces’ independence claims. Both won de-facto independence in the 1990s after wars with Georgia, and have survived since with Russia’s financial, political and military support.

“Neither Abkhazia ... nor South Ossetia will be part of the Georgian state,” Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh told the upper chamber of Russia’s parliament Monday.

Despite their desire for independence, one or both regions could eventually be absorbed into Russia.

“Ossetians have no doubts — we’ll only be with Russia,” said Robert Bestayev, 36, a beaming South Ossetian military communications officer in Tskhinvali, the provincial capital.

Russia’s critics say the conflict in Georgia heralds a new, worrying era in which an increasingly assertive Kremlin has shown itself ready to resort to military force outside its borders.

EU meeting on Georgia on Sept. 1
After Georgia tried to reassert control of South Ossetia by force Aug. 7, Russian troops overwhelmed the Georgians, and for nearly two weeks occupied positions deep within Georgia. Most Russian forces withdrew Friday, although some troops continue to operate near the Black Sea port of Poti and just outside the boundaries of the breakaway regions.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called a special meeting of EU leaders Sept. 1 to discuss aid to Georgia and future relations with Russia. France holds the 27-member bloc’s rotating presidency. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, however, said Monday the EU was not considering any sanctions against Moscow.

Ukraine, like Georgia, has angered Moscow by courting the West and seeking NATO membership. President Viktor Yushchenko said last week that the Russian offensive demonstrated that joining NATO is the only way Ukraine can ensure its security.

In a show staged for Russian eyes, Ukraine paraded tanks and other military hardware during Independence Day celebrations Sunday for the first time since 2001.

Medvedev signaled for calm in the face of Western criticism. NATO has suspended operations of its vehicle for cooperation with Russia over the Georgia crisis, but Medvedev said Monday there would be “nothing frightening” for Russia if the alliance were to sever ties altogether.

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