Dustin

it's not absurdity and figures as the west has demonstrated in the past dont matter, it's the parrallel in the way you look at things that does if it was good for Kosovo then it's good for Abkhazia and S Ossetia.

Bwire, Reading, UK

I understand the U.S. interest in the region. They are primarily of economic and secondary security driven. We would love to put missiles in Georgia while sucking up the crude oil at a premium. Russia understands this and made thier move. I can't blame Russia. But fortune favors the bold!

Kelly, Herndon, VA, USA

I give passports to the citizens of a country, provoke that country beyond all patience, invade that country to "protect" ITS citizens (!), ethnically cleanse that country of all others, then get them to declare independence. Russians on this site - you CANNOT justify this, it is MONTROUS!!!!!

Ben, Moscow, Russia

I bet most of Russia's nukes are duds, I bet the blue touch paper will be all damp and they just go poof after a little fizz.

Peter, Vancouver BC., Canada

Rockets on civilians in Sderot justify legitimate military retaliation and targeted killings and are a blocker for the peace process.
Rockets on Tschinvali are nothing the west should think about.
Crazy, crazy world ...

Maximilian Eberl, Speyer, Germany

If abkahzia and south ossetia remain in georgia, itll be a powder keg forever,and since Nato seems so eager to get involved in every conflict these days it will be US and EU troops fighting the ensuing innsurgency.Let them go Georgia, trying to keep them so far has cost you your military and economy

Chris, rochdale, GB

To stake world peace on a region as volatile as the Caucasus is a bad idea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abkhazia
gives details of the history and demographic changes in Abkhazia.
If Russia and America take opposing sides then no good will come of it. If the locals want to fight, let them.

ian, wilts, UK

Let the people decide...that's what democracy is all about isn't it?. But minister, if we give the people what they want, who knows what they'll ask for?.. Mark my words Humphrey, this is the thin edge of the wedge.

kirk, Rotherham, UK

The Sudetenland all over again.

Jon, San Angelo, Texas

It should be highlighted that:

If the 200,000 Georgians who previously lived in Abkhazia returned home - the native Abkhazian's would be in the minority.

The 'majorities' in Abkhasia and S.Ossetia were engineered by the Russians.

Howard, London, UK

There'll be more unrecognized states seeking independence after the Kosovo precendent - whatever anyone says about Kosovo being "unique", an example is an example. It's up to people to decide if they want to break free (which they did, btw) - but not their government, let alone a foreign one.

Elena, Moscow, Russia

Kosovo, I knew that situation would come back to haunt us. Recognising Kosovo was an incredibly stupid move by the west and for sure we will all pay the price for such bad politics.

Robert, Aberdeen, UK

What amuses me most is this whole Western media pantomime continually striving to pretend that the Russians are at fault... when it must be painfully evident to anyone that it was the Georgian attack on South Ossetia that started this mess in the first place...!!!

Joanna Jay, Walton on Thames, UK

I've been to Abkazia...I can say that it is incredibly beautiful country...Let's hope that there will be peace in this country... No matter it will be Russian, Georgian or Independent. Let's hope...
-
DeGaulle said: the grass grows again on the battlefields...
But first Sakashvili must get lost..

Leonard, Sardinia,

To David in Sukhumi, Georgia: you said - 'if you russians are so generous why don't you give independence to 21 your national republics'.
David, none of those 21 republics has ever asked for independence from Russia, because they know - without Russia they are nothing, zero.

Alex, Toronto, Canada

And where is this Genius Billy Clinton now? Silent? Wonder why.

albert, NYC, USA

It's pretty obvious that Russia intends a land grab. These little regions will be "independent" long enough to serve Russia's interests. Russia's invasion took a long time to prepare for. Now it's lying about planning to withdraw. Putin wants to control his neighbors like the Soviet Union did.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Why do russians always speak for others? you russians say that abkhazs and ossets want independence, but why don't you ask yourselves if we, Georgians want it. if you russians are so generous why don't you give independence to 21 your national republics where population is much more than in Abkhazia

David, Sukhumi, GEORGIA

The EU/NATO/USA have become impotent by supporting any new regime in post cold war eastern europe that represented a change from the past.The redrawn map of eastern europe is littered with un-democractic and sycophantic leaders who expertly play the US & Russia against each. Let Russia have it's way

Bill, Sydney, Australia

If they what it, why not ?

John, Moscow, Russia

Abkhazia and South Ossetia can't and shouldn't be part of Georgia after 8.8.8 attack. This is a new reality that Georgia must learn to live with just like Serbia did with Kosovo. Unless there is a reverse in Kosovo, Abhazians and South Ossetians have more rights than Albanians to be independent.

Oleg, Toronto, Canada

The Western powers were very quick to recognise separate parts of the former Yugoslavia, the premature recognition by Germany of Slovenia (and Croatia) precipitating the civil war. Would objections to this Georgian dissolution be so loud if it happened under the Soviet system? I doubt it.

Steve, London,

I think its fair for the Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be declared independent.And if they want to unite with Russia be it be.After all Kosovo was supported earlier by west.Same story here.After all who would ever think of uniting with Georgia after being shelled by barbaric georgians .

Olga Winova, London, UK

Russian generals say that georgians used american sattelite intelligence data to attack civilians in S. Ossetia.
2 Dustin NY. Parallel to Kosovo is OK. Your arguments are at the same quality level as "Indians used to be 100% majority in America in 1493." Should I blame your anciestors in genocide?

Pavel, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Dustin, right figures, wrong conclusions. Ethnic Georgians settled in Abkhazia at the end of 19 cent., and are considered as "newcomers" there, especially since Georgian settlement was still under way during Stalin rule. Georgia sent troops to Abkhazia (1993) and to South Ossetia (1992, 2008).

Nick2, Moscow, Russia

Dustin, how far back do you go? Certainly there were times when Serbs were majority in Kosovo. Your administration told us it is "new reality" that Albanians make up 90% of the population now. So, you have got a new reality in Abkhazia now.

Petar, Belgrade,

I've been to Abkazia and I can say that it is incredibly beautiful country: seashore, mountains, mountain streams... it's nature is absolutely fantastic...
Let's hope that there will be peace in this country... No matter it will be Russian, Georgian or Independent. Let's hope...

Denis, Rostov, Russia

I suppose that Chechnya will also get the same Russian support for independence - not!

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

Dustin, Kosovo is not a precedent for any particular % population justifying independence. But it is a precedent for territory being expropriated against the will of it's sovereign owner by the imposition of foreign power.

Tom, London, UK

Boris, London There are no bread queues any more and I think u know it!

Elena, Frankfurt, Germany- Russia

It won't make the bread queues any shorter.

Boris, London,

A parallel of Abkhazia & S. Ossetia to Kosovo is absurd.Pre-1999 Kosovo was 80% Albanian;its independence movement based on abolished autonomy by Milosevic.Abkhazia's pre-1991 population was 45% Georgian and 18% Abkhaz,living in peace;Russian-backed militants expelled Georgians,creating a "majority"

Dustin , New York,