Another War?
Russian troops invade neighboring country of Georgia
Georgian policemen evacuate a Georgian soldier wounded in battle with South Ossetian separatists, in the town of Gori on August 8, 2008. (Photo: ©Vano Shlamov/AFP/NewsCom)
A 1994 peace agreement fell apart on Thursday as Russia invaded its neighboring country of Georgia. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin called the conflict the start of war.
The U.S. issued a statement early Friday morning calling for a cease-fire. The State Department is sending an envoy to Georgia to help negotiate an end to the conflict. An envoy is a government’s representative sent on a diplomatic mission to back the interests of the government.
The immediate disagreement is over a portion of Georgia called South Ossetia. In 2006, that region voted to be independent from Georgia. Georgia refused to recognize the vote, while Russia agreed with it.
The long-term conflict is about control over a region of about 70,000 people that identifies itself culturally with Russia. It has been part of Georgia since the breakup of the Soviet Union, in 1991.
The U.S. has been a strong ally of Georgia, supporting its campaign to become a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). NATO was formed by a group of nations in 1949 to provide mutual aid and a common defense in case of aggression in Western Europe by the Soviet Union (now Russia) and other members of the Communist bloc. Russia as well as Georgia and 13 other republics made up the Communist bloc—that is, the Soviet Union. NATO membership for one of those former Soviet republics would be a slap in the face to Russia.
Tension between the region and Georgia increased in 2004 when Mikheil Saakashvili was elected President of the country. He made unification a central platform in his campaign. He was re-elected in 2008.
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| (Image: ©Jim McMahon) |
South Ossetia formed a de facto government and elected its own leader, which Russia recognized by establishing legal connections with its leaders.
Russia and Georgia disagree about which country had started the current aggression. Prime Minister Putin says Russian troops are peacekeepers. He says Georgian troops took over South Ossetia and are trying to stop Georgia from taking over Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia.
The Georgian President says that Russia is targeting civilians in its attacks and that Georgian troops are protecting its citizens. Each side blames the other for firing first.
For background information about Russia and The Republic of Georgia, see articles from Grolier Online’s The New Book of Knowledge: Russia; The Republic of Georgia.
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 | A 1994 peace agreement fell apart on Thursday as Russia invaded its neighboring country of Georgia. Russian Prime Minister President Vladimir V. Putin called the conflict the start of war. Should the U.S. become involved in the conflict between Russia and Georgia? Why? What role should NATO play in this conflict? Tell us what you think on the Scholastic News Online Blog! | |
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