On Friday 22 January Ms. Arda Inal-Ipa, Centre for Humanitarian Programmes, Sukhum, Abkhazia and Mr. Paata Zakareishvili, Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Peace, Tbilisi spoke on “The Georgian-Abkhaz conflict - Is it all about Russia?”.
This seminar provided a unique opportunity to hear views from influential Georgian and Abkhazian experts on the post-August war situation in the Caucasus.
The key outcome of the August 2008 Georgia-Russia war was the breakdown of the conflict resolution processes. The perceived nature of the conflict and the key parties to the conflict have changed as did the mechanisms for conflict transformation and resolution. Many among the international community now see the conflict as primarily an inter-state conflict between Russia and Georgia and concentrate on efforts to assure Russia's full compliance with the ceasefire plan, which was mediated by President Sarkozy.
This seminar discussed how Georgians and Abkhazians perceive Russia's role during and after the August conflict and the importance of the Georgian-Abkhazian confidence-building process as the key prerequisite for the lasting peace in the South Caucasus. This meeting was chaired by Oksana Antonenko, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the IISS. It will take place in the Lee Kuan Yew Conference Room at Arundel House. 13–15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX.
