Conference Report
This is the 14th volume in the series of Georgian-Abkhaz dialogue conferences, launched in 1997 by the University of California, Irvine with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the University of California, Irvine. Since 2004 participants from various international organizations have been involved in the dialogue process, as well as it have received great administrative and financial support from the Heinrich Boell Foundation.
This volume includes transcripts of presentations and discussions of the multilateral part of the conference “Georgian NATO Accession and Potential Impacts on the Georgian-Abkhaz Peace Process” held in Istanbul, June 12-15, 2007.
The conference theme is an extremely delicate issue for both Georgians and Abkhaz. The overwhelming majority of Georgians support NATO integration and hope to achieve this as soon as possible in order to preserve Georgia’s independence by anchoring itself to the West. Voices from the region and the West expressing doubts are not welcome.
This theme is also problematic for the Abkhaz participants. Many people in Abkhazia regard NATO as a staunch supporter of the Georgian position with its enormous military, political and economic power. From an Abkhaz perspective Russia is justified in admonishing possible NATO expansion into the South Caucasus as dangerous and aggressive.
Organizers of this conference offered a forum to their Georgian and Abkhaz partners where the public on both sides of the divide could transparently discuss the requisites and possible consequences of Georgia’s accession into NATO among themselves and together with international experts. Fundamental clashes of interest were not expected to be solved at this conference, but the discussions and resulting conference report, policy recommendations, and published proceedings helped to clarify the issues, and provided insights into the motivations and interests behind the different positions.
Participants of the conference (among which were international experts, including representatives from the NATO, EU, think tanks, universities and NGOs in Europe and the United States) support the principle that it’s better to talk with each other than past one another. They all hold the conviction that both sides of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict have earned the right to have their perspective heard in a respectful manner.
The conference agenda consisted of three sets of questions:
1. What does NATO stand for today? What are the perceptions of NATO in the East and West? What does NATO demand of its members? And what does it guarantee them?
2. How realistic is an early accession of Georgia into NATO? What factors would influence the decision?
3. How would possible Georgian accession into NATO impact the Georgian-Abkhaz peace process?
The conference concluded with participants recognizing that the difficulties and frustrations of the Georgians and Abkhaz, as well as members of the international community trying to help bring peace to the region are legitimate and understandable. The conflict is complex and the solutions are not simple.
Participants also felt that the discussions revealed more questions than answers about the impact that NATO accession would have on the conflict. More clarification is needed in both societies about the role of NATO and the EU, as well as more exposure of these organizations to the realities of Georgian and Abkhaz domestic developments and relations.
Paula Garb,
the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding,
University of California, Irvine
Walter Kaufmann,
South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation