The past period is characterized by a sharp surge of attention of the American press to what is happening in the Caucasus region. More than 25 materials were devoted to the Caucasian subject matter, mostly covering the situation in Georgia: the riots and the ongoing NATO exercises. The media continue to criticize Moscow for seeking to strengthen its influence on Tbilisi, at that stressing the importance of Georgia for the geopolitical and economic interests of the West. Publications are unison in the opinion that the Kremlin is set firmly against Mikhail Saakashvili and is ready to take all the possible steps for his removal from the post of the President of Georgia. NATO exercises are regarded by most experts as an additional factor in the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington. Thus, an influential The Washington Times writes: the Kremlin does not conceal its desire to get rid of Saakashvili, and still keeps its troops in Georgia despite the ceasefire agreements, thanks to which the August war was stopped. According to the American Thinker, the war with Georgia in August last year was just a trial balloon for Russia, which was trying the West’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Georgia. The results were encouraging for the Kremlin. American Thinker claims that Moscow must wish the second war would end by the capture of Georgia and overthrow of President Saakashvili. The Russian military presence in South Ossetia ensures its influence on this country, - The Washington Times continues to boil over. It is assumed that the Kremlin wants to undermine the confidence in Georgia as a reliable and viable country - transiter of oil and gas from Central Asia and the Caspian Basin. The two pipelines passing through Georgia are the only alternative to the Russian oil and gas transportation system, and the only challenge to the dominance of Moscow in the energy supply to Europe, - the newspaper reminds. Quite a lot of publications are citing the Georgian politicians, who are accusing Moscow of organizing and financing the riots and protest actions. Saakashvili, in his televised appeal called on Russia to refrain from provocation, and Moscow immediately declared its non-participation in these events, - The New York Times tells.
Preparation and conduct of NATO exercises in Georgia, as well as the events preceding it (signing an agreement on the border security between Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a riot of the Georgian military based in Muhrovan), hotted up the interest of the British press in the topic of the South Caucasus in the first half of May. Russia’s active steps on strengthening the relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as complication of the political situation in Georgia, made the media reflect on the appropriateness of conducting NATO maneuvers on the territory of the republic. There are fears that internal political struggle in Georgia may derail relations between Russia and NATO. Meanwhile, many experts believe that Moscow might provide serious support to the alliance in operations in Afghanistan and in other international issues. Experts and observers still insist on the need to counter the Russian claims on «privileged interests» in this region, but it is evident that there is no interest in a direct clash of Russian and Western positions there. It is stressed that Europe needs a stable South Caucasus, to ensure the safety of energy routes and reduce dependence on Russian energy exports. In the context of EU energy interests is also considered the recent adjustment of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Convergence of positions of the two countries, according to observers, may serve a positive example for Armenia and Azerbaijan, and become the impetus for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem. The settlement of the Karabakh conflict is again regarded as an important element in creating a network of reliable transit routes for transporting Central Asian gas to Europe bypassing Russia.
In the German media can be still observed an increasing interest in the political situation in Georgia, reflected in numerous comments on the topic. Widely discussed is also the reaction of the Russian Federation to NATO exercises in Georgia. Some material on the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia were timed to specific activities: the fifth round of Geneva discussions on the security in Transcaucasus and the parliamentary elections in South Ossetia scheduled for May 31, the results of which were not recognized by the West.
The key topics of the French media speeches on the situation in the Caucasus in May concerned the NATO military exercises in Georgia, the military rebellion on a Georgian military base and launch of the «East Partnership» program, aimed at strengthening cooperation of the EU with the South Caucasus countries included. Highlighting the NATO military exercises in Georgia, many leading media adduce the view of Moscow, which calls these exercises to be a provocation. Some publications think that this is indeed the case. An expert opinion is given that Russia considers the combination NATO - Georgia to be dangerous in all forms. The military rebellion in Georgia has become the number one topic in the materials of the French media on the Caucasian subject in May. At first the publications focused on the fact that the Georgian authorities informed on the rebellion, then they started writing about the rebellion as an event of unquestioned reality. A thesis is also spread that the mutiny was advantageous to Russia. On the one hand, it is alleged that in the West many believe Saakashvili mentally abnormal, on the other hand, Le Figaro has been consistently demonstrating why the thesis about the mental illness Saakashvili is advantageous to Moscow. The Kremlin argues that the President of Georgia is a psychiatric patient, and even says that not the military, but medics should be sent to Georgia.
The «East Partnership» program, launched at the EU summit in Prague, is believed by most French media to be inopportune, also for the reason that Georgia has not yet recovered from the armed conflict with Russia.
In May the issue of Caucasus attracted the attention of the Spanish press in connection with the rebellion in Muhrovan, Georgia-NATO exercises, signing of agreements on the protection of borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia. Analysis of the situation in the Chechen Republic, in connection with the repeal of the counter-terrorist operation regime, is continuing on the pages of the media.
The most popular information event of the month was the NATO exercises on the territory of Georgia, to which the Chinese press paid heightened attention. Experts do not conceal their concern over the growing tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi, and make the following conclusion: short-sighted policy of the West, on the one hand, has a destructive effect on making progress in the US-Russian relations, on the other - indicates that NATO is playing the Georgia card to weaken Moscow's influence in the Caucasus, and ensure control of the western countries over energy supplies of this region. Other press materials, to varying degrees, analyze general trends of development of the Russian-Georgian relations, as well as focus on the statements of the opposition in Georgia, suggesting that official Tbilisi will follow the recommendations of the West and try to look for compromises for the only purpose to blunt the vigilance of Saakashvili's political opponents. |
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