Lala Shovket: "Russia has restored the unpleasant image of the Soviet Union"

She said she gave assessment to Russia's aggressive policy on August 8 and on the same day the Azadlyg bloc, represented by three parties-Party of Citizens and Development, Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan and Liberal Party of Azerbaijan, released a special statement, condemning the deployment of Russian armed forces in independent Georgia.

She considers that Russia carries an unpleasant policy against Georgia which is its great political mistake.

"Russia's aggressive policy and factual occupation of an independent state creates a risky precedent for all the post-Soviet states.

Spread of Russia's military actions far beyond South Ossetia, bombing of peaceful cities of Gori, Senaki, Poti, Marneuli and others does not leave doubts about the occupational nature of these actions.

Though today it is possible to speak of the reorganization of military forces of Georgia and destruction of the military infrastructure, it does not mean Russia's victory. This victory can only be called Pyrrhic.

I want to go back to the motives of this large scale military action of Russia. Considering the statements of the senior officials of Russia, it is possible to draw certain conclusions about the tasks, Russia set before itself.

First of all, the geopolitical task was that Russia seizes complete control over the South Caucasus region. This is undoubtedly the policy of empire revanchism, which does not require any proofs. Second, it wanted to hamper Georgia's accession to NATO and further the Euro-Atlantic integration of other South Caucasus states. Third, it was important for Russia to take the energy corridor, which is now the alternative to the Russian one, under its control. And fourth to replace the democratically elected president Mikhail Saakashvili.

It should be noted that Russia failed to fulfill any of these tasks and in the result it had to face the whole civilized world, which may soon lead to its complete isolation and to the climate of cold war. Russia has damaged its relations with the United States and European countries. Only Cuba has supported it. Even Belarus, which was its ally, has turned its back to it. By its actions, Russia has restored the unpleasant image of the Soviet Union. But it should be realized that the geopolitical climate is different today and Russia is not the Soviet Union and Georgia is not the Hungary of 1956 or Czechia of 1968.

Currently, the world society supports Georgia. The whole democratic world supports Georgia today. French President Nicholas Sarkozy, being a head of state, chairing EU, has undertaken the mission on restoration of ceasefire. Arrival of heads of five democratic states of Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia to Tbilisi prove their support to Georgia.

In turn, the United States showed that they will not allow Russia's aggression against this small democratic country. US president George Bush has thrice made announcements on Georgia, defining US priorities. Condoleezza Rice has left on a mission to France and then to Georgia.

The Moscow visit to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, who is also to visit Georgia, has just completed. The UN Security Council and the Council of EU Foreign Ministers have been convened several times regarding this issue. Thus, the whole civilized world has expressed its deep concern over the ecents in Georgia.

Despite it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the territorial integrity of Georgia should be forgotten. It is a very dangerous precedent. I want to remind that this was Sergey Lavrov who spoke of the "red line of the territorial integrity of the states, which is unshakable" while discussing the Kosovo issue in the UN Security Council. Now it is timely to recall the double standards. Anyway, such announcement can complicate Russia's relations with its nearest neighbors, especially Azerbaijan and Ukraine", continued the Azadlyg bloc co-chair.

She said Azerbaijan should give an objective assessment and support Georgia both in the political and humanitarian front and extend moral support, especially considering partnership in the GUAM frames.

She also added that Azadlyg bloc is for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the basis of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Georgian people.

/Day.Az/