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Why Does the U.S. Get All the Tornadoes?
Posted By Josh Rogin
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - 2:00 PM
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The nation of Georgia is in a position to block Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a top goal of the U.S.-Russia reset policy. The Georgians say that they are willing to strike a deal with Russia but only if Moscow abides by WTO rules on trade and customs policy, a position that would require Russian concessions in its conflict over the occupied territories, according to the president of Georgia.
Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's president, sat down for an exclusive interview with The Cable during his recent visit to Washington. He said that after lot of stalling and hand wringing, negotiations between Tbilisi and Moscow over the latter's desire to join the WTO had begun. As a WTO member, Georgia has veto power over any new additions to the organizations. Saakashvili said it was too early to tell if the Russians were negotiating in good faith or willing to make real concessions.
The Russian government refused to talk directly with Georgia for a long time and expected the United States to deliver Georgia's support for Russia's WTO accession, Saakashvili said.
"They were telling the Americans that we will make a deal with you and Georgia comes as part of the package. I heard some Russians say that it just takes one call from Vice President [Joseph] Biden to Saakashvili to convince him and make him shut up,'" the president said.
"But it's not like this and the Americans know it's not like this -- and they've done their best to clarify this to the Russians. Exactly because of that American position, finally the Russians came to the negotiating table. That's already great progress."
Obama administration officials have made it clear that Washington won't become involved in WTO negotiations between Russia and Georgia. The first round of those talks took place in the city of Bern with Swiss mediation earlier this month. The next round is scheduled to begin in May. Saakashvili said that Georgia was willing to be flexible but that the initial Russian proposals, which only dealt with Georgian exports to Russia, were not constructive.
"Some Russians were saying ‘we'll let back in your wine and you will change your position.'" Saakashvili said. "We don't have any wine left to sell to the Russians. That's not the bargaining chip. We need transparency of border transactions and customs issues. That's where we need to find mutually acceptable solutions with the Russians."
Of course, one huge problem is how to define the Georgian-Russian border. For Tbilisi, that includes the borders between Russia and the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which it considers breakaway republics. Russia has recognized the territories as independent states and has troops stationed in both regions.
"It's up to the Russians to show that they can go to flexible and compromise solutions," Saakashvili said. "Russians have said we can get [WTO membership] without Georgia. Good luck. Let them try. But Georgia is not going to compromise our principles."
Saakashvili also said that he is willing to limit the negotiations to the economic arena, leaving aside contentious political issues, such as Russia's failure to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire that ended the 2008 conflict. But he doubted the Russian government could keep the two issues separate.
"It would be counter-productive to go to political issues, but unfortunately [throughout the recent history of Russian-Georgia relations] Russians have turned every single economic issue into a political one. That's where we find ourselves," he said.
Saakashvili also talked about Georgia's desire to start buying defensive weapons from the United States. There has been an unofficial, unstated ban on selling heavy weapons to Georgia, a ban Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) ranking Republican John McCain (R-AZ) have often complained about.
"It's not in our interest to leave a stalwart partner, a NATO-aspirant country, without the needs to properly defend itself," McCain said at Tuesday's SASC hearing.
Saakashvili said he takes the administration at its word that there is no ban on weapons sales to Georgia and that some sales of small arms are "in the pipeline." But he added that Georgia really needs heavier weapons that could be used to defend the country in the case of another conflict with Russia.
"We don't' really need small arms, we have plenty of them and actually there are many alternative sources to shop for them," he said. "What Georgia really needs is something that it cannot get from anywhere else and that's anti-air and anti-tank [weapons] and that's completely obvious ... that's where should be the next stage of the cooperation."
Georgia has been striving to prove its value as a U.S. ally in a tumultuous region. Georgia has over 1,000 troops deployed in Afghanistan in some of the most dangerous areas in the South of Afghanistan and Saakashvili offered to send more troops in his March meeting with Gen. David Petraeus, he said.
The U.S. is also investing in Georgia. Saakashvili highlighted that the U.S. military is increasing its involvement on the ground in Georgia, for example by opening a $100 million U.S. Army Medical Research lab in Tbilisi as part of the Nunn-Lugar initiative.
Saakashvili said that the United States still must lead in supporting emerging democracies and use its moral authority and soft power to push for human rights and democratic change in countries with oppressive governments.
"This administration has been holding the line, at the U.N. Security Council, at the OSCE, at the arms control talks. American was the first major power to call a spade a spade, to call Russia's action in Georgia a military occupation. This moral support is paramount for any nation and these kind of things count," he said.
"This ultimately will make the whole process of advancing freedom irreversible."
AFP/Getty Images
EXPLORE:CENTRAL ASIA, EUROPE, DIPLOMACY, GEORGIA, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, RUSSIA, TRADE, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, UNITED NATIONS 
I can only guess how infuriated Putin is by the fact that Georgia and Saakashvili--which I'm sure he views as insignificant peons--have the power to block Russia's WTO ascension.
Karma's a bitch Putin!
And you know, that Russians don't want at all, that their country accessed to WTO?
BROKENS, you display a typical Russian style stance. If you are a loser behave like a winner. Well, you may fool yourself and those who want to be fooled, but not everybody. Don't want WTO? - Then why do you try so hard to join it? Only a retard state can say that it does not want something and yet do EVERYTHING possible in order to get it. Retarded!
That idiot still thinks that he can push around Russia? Clearly 2008 didnt made a clear message for him. Try again. Now, without chewing on your tie.
Of course a leader which REALLY fights corruption, introduces reforms (THAT DO WORK!) and is a democrat is an "idiot" and what exactly do you mean that he is "pushing around Russia"?
Well what do you expect when Russian army CROSSES an internationally recognized BORDER between two countries? As for WTO, Russia has to play by the Rules, even this corrupt retarded oil dictatorship has to lean someday that having Nukes and Oil is not enough for everything. Sometimes you have to be civilized... and it is fine by me if this lesson for the Kremlin should come from a small state like Georgia.
When one says "Russia" it does not mean that you are speaking about a country which had been officially granted a right to be a criminal state.
MALICEIT - what do you mean exactly by "pushing around"? Can you be more specific or just don't post nonsense about things about which you hardly know anything.
i could not agree with you more. Basically is a country has Oil/Gas an crapload of Nukes with a retarded corrupt criminal government is is OFFICIALLY allowed to do anything!(Except for seriously messing with US/China and France, Germany) Kadaffi/ Saddam did not have nukes, Putin does so he is like a "good" dictator who the west can deal with.
Russians read this article and laugh! Really he doesn't understand that Russians DO NOT WANT, that their country accessed to WTO!?
Funny way of showing that. If Russia DOES NOT WANT to be part of the WTO then WHY Russia is negotiating this issue with countries of WTO for more than 16 years?? Are you retarded? NOBODY forces you to join WTO if yo don't want.
WHY Russia is negotiating this issue with countries of WTO for m
This is the Russian government wants to enter the WTO, and themselves Russian don't want!
You have to say - thank you Georgia then ))
You have to say - thank you Georgia then )) because We're not going to let you in ))
That's exactly what most of the Russians are saying, "Thank you, Georgia, for not letting us join the WTO! Hold on your promise! Don't let us enter that vile WTO! Keep your piss wine for themselves!"
In the States your Kindzmarauli and Saperavi are sold only on-line, and often - at a deep discounted price. Some die hard Russians in New York and Miami still buy that swill, but in Russia now nobody wants it. So, dear Georgians, keep your tangerines and your swill, and we will keep Abhazia and Ossetia ))
1) Stop this posing please.
2) Russians, do not even understand what WTO is and what joining WTO means for your country. Saying "we oppose" or "we support" can be usually said about things that you understand. For you, this is purely emotional. You don't want WTO, yet you try so hard to join... Tully... only Russia is capable of doing it. Good luck. I'll tell you honestly, Georgians do not care about weather Russia would join WTO or not, but you had to work with EVERY WTO member to join AND YOU DID. Well guess what?
""BROKENS 2:02 PM ET March 31, 2011 WHY Russia is negotiating this issue with countries of WTO for m
This is the Russian government wants to enter the WTO, and themselves Russian don't want!""
- Just funny to read. So by your logic Russian state is run by Martians? Secondly, if you oppose joining WTO so much... I wonder if this is purely political or you have at least basic understanding of what you are opposing?? I doubt that.
They are dancing to the same song........
Putin: Arrested political opponents and shut down opposition media before elections.
Saakashvili: Arrested political opponents and shut down opposition media before elections.
Putin: Starts aggressive wars in semi autonomous regions that desire independence.
Saakashvili: Starts aggressive wars in semi autonomous regions that desire independence.
Putin: uses economic blackmail on it's European neighbors (mainly with natural gas) to get his way.
Saakashvili: uses economic blackmail on it's Russian neighbors (WTO access) to get his way.........
It's that old axiom 'too much alike to get along.' I would've mentioned Medvedev if he had any real power or policy.
Please, don't be an idiot.
"Putin: Arrested political opponents and shut down opposition media before elections."
- What do you mean "before elections"?
1) Russia never had media at all! Those 1,5 papers with a laughable amount of exposure can not be regarded as serious media. "Novaya Gazeta"? HALF of the staff murdered!
2) Putin does not need to arrest any "opponents", political opponents are created by the society (which Russia DOES NOT have) and media (Which Russia NEVER HAD) what the hell are you talking about? Putin throws people to jail just because and not because he is scared of anybody in Moscow.
"Saakashvili: Arrested political opponents and shut down opposition media before elections."
- Arrested political opponents?? WHO? WHO EXACTLY DID HE ARREST? And you know there is an "arrest" and arrest. If the police has your video and audio tape of you talking on a phone about buying weapons in order to kill officials it is a VERY good reason to go to Jail.
- "Shut down media"... Do you even read what do you write? The government has shut down ONE TV channel which BELONGED to a tycoon and the reason why the government had to do it was simple - it was OPENLY calling for a violence and has turned into a propaganda machine. You see no difference do you? BESIDES Georgia has PLENTY of OTHER TV channels that have COMPLETELY different owners and views on everything. Need I to remind you that the TV station that was "shut down" was allowed back on air after two weeks and a fine. As for other opposition media... What "Maestro-TV" or "Kavkasia" do not exist? And if you ask me they go FAR beyond what any opposition channels is allowed to go in any democratic state. Direct insults of the government is not a democracy, but our government allows it.
"Putin: Starts aggressive wars in semi autonomous regions that desire independence."
- Putin fights anything Russia is capable of fighting with. It's like a hungry bear. anything it can eat or attack it tries to.
"Saakashvili: Starts aggressive wars in semi autonomous regions that desire independence."
- Thats just great... /:
It is so simple to you, isn't it? Are you trying to be smart or original here? Well you are simply dumb and let me break it down for you puppy:
1) First of all, I do not understand what you mean "aggressive wars"? Can a war be nonagressive? Is war in Libya aggressive? What about Iraq? What about any other war in history?
2) The war was NOT between what you call "semi autonomous regions" and Georgia, the war was between Russia and Georgia and EVERYBODY knew that Russia was going to invade Georgia. It is simple, US was too busy with Iraq and Bush... EU was too busy counting Putins Petro-dollars and pipelines with oil and Gas. Both have recognized Kosovo and PUTIN STATED (January 2008 press conference, his last official one as the president) That if US and EU would do that than Russia would recognize the Georgian regions which ALREADY where under Russian military occupation. (Why you did not knew that did you?)
3) As for those "semi autonomous regions" you call there maggot:
"South Ossetia"
In 1921 Russia invaded Georgia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_invasion_of_Georgia
In 1924 there was a large Antibolshevik uprising in Georgia, because Georgians hated damn communists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Uprising
After defeat by overwhelming Russian forces Russia wanted to punish Georgia by RENAMING a historical Georgian region of "Samachablo" to "South Ossetia" and RENAMING "Republic Alaniya"(The real and ONLY Ossetia located in the Northern Caucasus) to "North Ossetia"
THE ONLY connection between the "North" and "South" "Ossetia's" is a small military tunnel built in the mountain in 1980s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roki_Tunnel
Before 1924 - There were only 9 Ossetian families living in the region. (because of a SIMPLE geography that even kids can understand while looking at the map)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Satellite_image_of_Georgia_in_May_2003.jpg
In 2006-2008 Russia has turned the so called "South Ossetia" INTO THE MOST MILITARISED REGION ON THE PLANET! (Yes, FAAR more tanks/AK47s per person than in North Korea)
Abkhazia:
Russian military simply EXTERMINATED the ABSOLUTE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF THE REGION Killing them or turning them to refugees in 1993, while Georgia did not even have an army.
Georgians made up to 85% of the regions population. Now only 5%. Hundreds of thousands of other nationals Estonians, Latvians, Ukrainians, polls, Jews have been also turned to refugees by Russian army.
SO, you say this is correct? Right? THIS is your logic here isn't it?
"Putin: uses economic blackmail on it's European neighbors (mainly with natural gas) to get his way."
- yes AND...
"Saakashvili: uses economic blackmail on it's Russian neighbors (WTO access) to get his way........."
- Saakashvili ONLY SAYS ONE SIMPLE THING TO RUSSIANS:
"WE WANT RUSSIAN CUSTOM OFFICERS ON THE RUSSIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER AND GEORGIAN CUSTOM OFFICERS ON THE GEORGIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER!"
No, really, you just HAVE to be very dumb in order to not understand a difference between "blackmail" and a SIMPLE request to have CIVILIZED customs like in every normal part of the world?!
Putin wants to have: Russian army on the Russian side of the border AND Russian army on the Georgian side of the border.
You say Saakashvili = Putin and I tell you - YOU ARE DUMB at best! And that is what you will get when talking about a subject that you have not idea about.
"It's that old axiom 'too much alike to get along.' I would've mentioned Medvedev if he had any real power or policy."
- You can write anything you want, it is clear you understand nothing and just want to sound smart, whole you are not.
Is alexander_1 an idiot or just a failing apologist? either way why should i care?
You don't know who I am, but I can tell you who you are. You are retarded. Next time if you want to run into a conversation at least learn the very basics of the conversation topic.
he's just another georgian monkey on a payroll, trying to impress people. A-little-dog makes-big-noise kinda thing.
BROTHER IN BLUE - and I think that you are just another pig on FSB payroll. You certainly sound like one.
MALICEIT - interesting, where do you come from? It looks like you vocabulary consists of an "idiot" and just a handful of other, not so important to you, words. In your place I would care because the way it is you look exactly like... that word which seems to be placed in the corner of your universe.
Not really FSB, I am, in fact, just another pig (you got that right) on Uncle Sam's payroll, you fucking monkey turd..Goddamn dambass. Fucking basrape. Stupid georgian shit hole, two-bit cock-sucking piece of monkey shit, you!
Hey, namesake Alexander )) take it easy, be a man )) I bet you got perspired argueing here. First of all - please stop study History reading wikippedia and watching BBC.
Everybody pay your attention for the following irresponsible assertions of our debator:
1) Russian military simply EXTERMINATED the ABSOLUTE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION OF THE REGION Killing them or turning them to refugees in 1993, while Georgia did not even have an army. -- A lie. Any facts, fotos? Or just make an acquaintance with any abkhazian, he will readilly tell you what he thinks about gergians and the year 1993.
2) Russia never had media at all! - ofcourse we hadn't. What for? We can hardly read )))
3) "Shut down media"... Do you even read what do you write? The government has shut down ONE TV channel which BELONGED to a tycoon and the reason why the government had to do it was simple - it was OPENLY calling for a violence and has turned into a propaganda machine.
--- Any facts, fotos?
4) - Putin fights anything Russia is capable of fighting with. It's like a hungry bear. anything it can eat or attack it tries to. ---- wow.. Really?
and some others..
P.S. Dear georgians, please don't let us get in WTO for at least another 16 years. Let's just negotiate.
Alexander! see you in tranches of WWW3 )) ....... don't panic! i'm just kidding )
John Hudson reports on national security and foreign policy from the Pentagon to Foggy Bottom, the White House to Embassy Row, for The Cable.
May/June 2013
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