Saakashvili Outlines Approaches to Conflict Resolution

“Soft power” and “people power” should be applied in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, respectively, to make a breakthrough in these separatist conflicts, according to President Saakashvili.

In an interview with Reuters on July 4, Saakashvili described the Abkhaz conflict as “one of the most forgotten ethnic cleansings of the 20th century.”

“How do you change it? By applying the soft power of the 21st century,” he added.

Saakashvili was referring to a theory described by Harvard University professor Joseph Nye as “the ability to get what you want by attracting and persuading others to adopt your goals.’

The Georgian president criticized the UN’s efforts to facilitate the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to Abkhazia as “pretty disappointing.” He said that Tbilisi wanted “more European Union participation in that part of the world.”

“What we need … is a strong stance from the international community that people should be allowed to go back [to Abkhazia],” Saakashvili told Reuters.

Abkhazia, according to Georgian officials, topped the agenda at a meeting on June 29 between President Saakashvili and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was in Tbilisi on a brief, unannounced stopover.

The European Union, meanwhile, is stepping up its involvement. After visiting the Abkhaz capital of Sokhumi last month, the EU’s special representative to the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, said that the EU “is only beginning to become involved earnestly” in confidence-building measures to help resolve the conflicts in Georgia. He said this entailed the EU taking “a more political role.”

The EU is currently looking into the possibility of including Abkhazia in the EU’s Neighborhood Policy (ENP) with Georgia.

Regarding South Ossetia, Saakashvili said “people power,” involving giving voice to ordinary people, could be the key to the conflict there.

“The universal solution to all these kinds of situations is to give more democracy,” he said.

He claimed that certain forces were desperately trying to prevent the local population of South Ossetia from switching sides and talking with Georgia’s central government.

“But they [these forces] will not succeed,” Saakashvili said.

The president further elaborated on the issue later on July 4 at a meeting with members of Tbilisi City Council (Sakrebulo). He recalled an incident on June 28 in which local Georgian villagers in the conflict zone had confronted Russian peacekeepers.

“People there brought roses to soldiers and poured paint on their terrifying armored vehicles,” Saakashvili said.

“They have achieved their goal through absolutely peaceful actions. This is exactly what will undermine KGB-style methods and illegal jails there.”

He also denied allegations that Tbilisi was preparing to use force. South Ossetian authorities alleged on July 4 that the Georgian side had been deploying troops in the conflict zone in recent days.

“There is no military solution to this situation,” he said.

On the contrary, officials in Tbilisi have said that massive rehabilitation projects in Tbilisi-controlled areas of South Ossetia are on-going. The resumption of hostilities, they have said, would be counter-productive to their efforts to showcase Tbilisi’s successes to the population of the breakaway region.

Tbilisi wants its loyal provisional administration of South Ossetia, led by Dimitri Sanakoev, to take the credit for the rehabilitation projects.