Georgia Watch: Tentative Deal Struck

It looks like things might be settling down a bit in Georgia:

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili Thursday defused the
worst crisis since he came to power, lifting an economic blockade on
the rebellious Adzhara region in return for more of a say in local
affairs.
The five-day standoff between central government and the Adzhara region
had threatened to spill into armed conflict, blocked oil shipments from
the port of Batumi and highlighted strained relations with former
Soviet master Russia.
Washington has been watching, keen to see Georgia independent of
Russia but concerned that nothing disrupt the construction of a new
Western pipeline to deliver oil from the Caspian Sea directly to the
Mediterranean Sea.

I seriously doubt this saga is over. I'll keep my eyes out for more information.

Posted by flow Frazao on March 18, 2004 at 04:56 PM | Permalink