WSJ 3/8/05
But the higher U.S. profile in the Caucasus could fuel fresh tensions with Moscow, which long has backed the separatist governments and steadfastly opposed any outside intervention to restore Georgian authority there.
In an interview, Mr. Saakashvili described Washington’s new policy of engagement as a "turning point." "We have a political understanding that something should be done and that there can be some kind of U.S. role," he said. But he stressed any American moves had to be "together with the Russians."
Georgia long has sought Western help to regain Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions harboring age-old ethnic and territorial grievances with Tbilisi that fought and won secessionist wars against its forces in the early 1990s.
The U.S. has criticized Moscow for backing the separatists, saying they fuel instability. Russia supports the regions economically, has sought to influence elections, and has issued Russian passports and pensions to residents there. Meanwhile, the Ossetian government is largely made up of Russian citizens — who constitute a tiny minority of its population — according to U.S. officials.
But the decision to get more involved in conflict resolution here comes as Washington and Moscow compete openly for influence in other parts of the former Soviet Union. Last week, Uzbekistan evicted the U.S. from a military base that had been crucial to American operations in Afghanistan. The move, which gave a big boost to Russia, followed Washington’s criticism of the May shooting deaths of hundreds of Uzbek protesters in the town of Andijan.
Mr. Saakashvili has made reunification a key priority, but so far his record has been mixed. Last year he brought another insubordinate region, Ajara, back into the fold without bloodshed. Then, last summer, skirmishes broke out in South Ossetia after Georgia sent its army into the region. It later withdrew under international pressure, but has sealed its borders with South Ossetia to curtail smuggling.
M eanwhile, tensions have continued to rise, both with Russia and the separatist authorities. Last month, Mr. Saakashvili accused "Russian citizens" of organizing a February bomb attack in the Georgian town of Gori that killed three policemen. Russian officials dismiss the allegations.
The interview with Mr. Saakashvili took place after his talks in Tbilisi with Matt Bryza, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, who will lead U.S. mediation efforts on Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Georgians recently put forward a detailed peace plan for South Ossetia, though Mr. Saakashvili admitted there is little chance of any immediate progress on Abkhazia.
A senior Bush administration official said any U.S. mediation would closely involve the Russians. "We want to make sure we’re not seen as muscling in where we’re not necessarily wanted," he said.