ICAR News Network - Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

ICAR News Network

To End a War
By Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 09/29/08

[Published, Economist Online, September 29, 2008] SIR - Your analysis on the Russia-Georgia conflict (“To end a war”, September 13th) overlooks one important issue still to be worked out in Nicolas Sarkozy’s “step by step” mediation. President Saakashvili has yet to formally renounce the use of force in any future efforts to take back Abkhazia or South Ossetia.

P resident Medvedev has consistently made Russian commitments contingent upon a Georgian pledge not to use force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia. For now, the European Union serves as the guarantor to Russia of no Georgian use of force, but surely a written pledge by President Saakashvili would be a meaningful step towards creating the context in which the other remaining questions can be constructively addressed.

Susan Allen Nan
Assistant professor
Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

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ICAR News Network To End a War By Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 09/29/08 [Published, Economist Online, September 29, 2008] SIR - Your analysis on the Russia-Georgia conflict (“To end a war”, September 13th) overlooks one important issue still to be worked out in Nicolas Sarkozy’s “step by step” mediation. President Saakashvili has yet to formally renounce the use of force in any future efforts to take back Abkhazia or South Ossetia. P resident Medvedev has consistently made Russian commitments contingent upon a Georgian pledge not to use force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia. For now, the European Union serves as the guarantor to Russia of no Georgian use of force, but surely a written pledge by President Saakashvili would be a meaningful step towards creating the context in which the other remaining questions can be constructively addressed. Susan Allen Nan Assistant professor Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution