Why breakaway Georgian Territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia do not deserve independence.

Photos

Why breakaway Georgian Territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia do not deserve independence.

see larger image

uploaded by djussila

Independence is not only dependant on the dependence of other independent nations recognizing its independence dependably, but also depends on the criteria the United Nations rules to be in accordance for a nation to independently declare independence. Regions, ethnic groups, and cultures must comply and meet pre-determined standards by which most of the nations in the world have agreed to utilize, via the United Nations, in order to legalize and legitimize their self-government. If unable to meet the requirements, whether it be from ignorance or demographics, the separatist section will not be recognized at separate country. While the constituency may be the de facto governing authority, they will never be recognized as sovereign and never admitted into the United Nations. UN nations, including the United States, understand why certain regions in the world, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, shouldn't receive recognition for their attempts at self-rule and why other nations, like Kosovo, should be accepted as an independent state.

In reality, a region threatening separation can successfully manage their own predetermined borders. Unless the separatist government can meet specified systems of induction, however, most countries in the world will not accept its sovereignty.

Kosovo is internationally accepted as a sovereign nation because it meets these requirements. Kosovo Albanians have attained self-reliance because they are of a particular ethnicity, with their own language, culture, and history, with a large enough demographic to have dominance over the region. Over 90% of the population in Kosovo is ethnic Albanian.

Kosovo Albanians control their country. Kosovo Albanians have under their influence the governments of Kosovo, the schools and universities. This dominance has been in Kosovo since the formation of Kosovo, in 1945, to protect the regional Albanian majority. Their strength was only amplified when Kosovo was declared an autonomous region within the socialist republic of Serbia in 1974, however their self-reliance was stripped away when Slobodan Miloevi, president of Serbia, revoked their autonomy of Kosovo in the early 1990's.

These prerequisites are internationally accepted as the groundwork for a future-state, that is; a common history, language, and culture.

These requirements are met, although arguable, with regions like Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Ossetians in the mid-north and the Abkhazians in the north-west of the country of Georgia both fight for the recognition as a self-regulating nation. Similar to Kosovo, in the sense that both inhabitants have their cultures sewed in their native soils, but differ in significant issues that either make or break an aspiring nation. Lacking the credentials, Abkhazia and South Ossetia fail to receive international support for sovereignty, despite the fact they are both the de-facto administration in those regions of Georgia.

 Case in point, population size and demographics percentages. Both are relevant and both are weaknesses of the two Georgian regions. If the two problems were risen above by Abkhazia or South Ossetia, either one would be closer in becoming an accepted country in the world. South Ossetia, for example, has a population of only 70, 000 people, or about 18 people per square kilometre. You can have your distinct culture on your own lands, fine. But lets face facts here: there is not enough people in South Ossetia for their own nation. While there are smaller, less populous countries, most are on islands - occupied with mainly native peoples. And with no borders foreign borders to irritate nationalities, the ability to create a nation would be far easier. Worse yet, only 65% of the population is ethnic Ossetian, the remainder is ethnic Georgian. A majority, true enough, but UN nations, including the United States, understand how large and clear the majority must be. The demographics just don't make the grade.

On the other side of Georgia, Abkhazia also suffers from a problematic demographic. However there problem isn't the size, where Abkhazians are 43% of the population. A small majority in the richly cultural area. The problem with Abkahzia, is how and why the Abkhazian people came to be the majority, where less than two decades ago, they composed less than 18% of the population.

 In the early nineties, a war of ethnic-nationalism commenced when the Abkhaz ethnic minority revolted against Georgian control in Abkhazia. The conlict lasted a year, and in the end Abkhaza stole its self-government from Georgia and became the de-facto republic it is today. During the war, significant human rights violations were reported by both sides. The worst of these were from the Abkhaz military, where a possible 20, 000 ethnic Georgians were reportedly murdered in a camaign of ethnic cleansing. Another 250, 000 Ethnic Georgians became refugees when forced from their homes. These violations against ethnic Georgians in Abkhazia are officially recognized by the United Nations and the OSCE. An additional motive for why the United States and UN nations accept Kosovo as a soverign nation and not Abkhazia is the persecution factor. A significant issue when deciding what regions to recognize as independent nations is whether they, the ethnicities involved, have been mistreated their fundemental rights by a larger majority. Kosovo Albanians, under the presidency of Slobodan Miloevi, aka the "butcher of the Balkans", were heavly persecuted under president Miloevis ethno-nationalist campaign to create a "greater Serbia" composed of mainly ethnic Serbians. In the aftermath of the murderous coflict that lasted many years, approximately 800, 000 ethnic Kosovo Albanians were forcibly expelled from their province - with their property looted and destroyed. Additionally, specific ethnically based massacres commited by serb forces took place in more than a dozen places in Kosovo. 3, 000 Ethnic Kosovo Albanians are still reported to be missing. Slobodan Miloevi was arrested in early 2001 and was charged with two counts of genocide and ten counts of crimes against humanity, among others. Slobodan Miloevi of a heart attack in his cell in March 2006.

 With persecution as a factor for recognizing independence, how could UN nations possibly recognize Abkhazia as a soverign nation, when it was the Abkhaz minority undertaking the persecuton?

Independence is dependent on international law. Some countries like Russia, Serbia, the People's Republic of China (mainly countries undergoing difficulty with their own seperatist organizations ) say that the independence of Kosovo violates international law - the non-violation of territorial integrity of a state. The UN and its nations, including the United States, understand territorial integrity of a state, while important, is only a broad aggreement of what should be abided by if other rules of accordance are not met. Unlike Kosovo, South Ossetia andd Abkhazia shall never receive independent and soverign status because it does not meet the requirement made by the UN and other free nations. Despite its de-facto position, history books will not put their alleged "territory" on maps, and the future will not remember a divided Georgia - just the United and independent nation it should be. The independence of the free nation of Gerorgia rests apon its unification of regions. In the 21st century, independence relies on the dependence of the international community, as well as the cooperation of races and cultures of the nation.