Our World - 20080921

This week, how a mountainous region with an ancient civilization and ancient ethnic feuds has become the spark for a new confrontation between Russia and the West. We present Brian's conversation with the European diplomats who are trying to cobble together a political solution and avoid further violence between Russia and Georgia..



The Caucasus is a mountainous region of the world that is both rugged and breathtakingly beautiful. Its civilization dates back 2000 years and is at the crossroads of Europe, and Asia. But the different peoples there have a long history of ethnic fighting and warfare.



For a long time ancient feuds were contained within the Russian empire and then the Soviet Union. Georgia, one of the countries of the Caucasus, was a lush land and favoured jewel of the Soviet empire. After the collapse of this empire, Georgia declared independence. It now wants very close ties with the west.President Mikhail Saakashvili even wants Georgia to join NATO. Something Russia warns it can't tolerate. The flashpoint of the current crisis are two small regions.South Ossetia and Abkhazia..which most of the world recognizes as part of Georgia.



Who really started fighting in August is still in dispute. Georgia, despite western warnings to not provoke Russia, sent forces into South Ossetia. But Russia was also itching for a fight, and struck back fiercely into Georgia, with troops and air strikes. As the West protested and Russia remained defiant, Europe feared a new Cold War. It brokered a tenuous peace deal, and hopes its main peace seeking body, can defuse a dangerous conflict. That's the OSCE: the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe which also includes Canada and the US, because of the NATO connection.



This week Parliamentarians from all member states, including Russia and Georgia, have been seeking new peace moves at OSCE conference in Toronto.It gave us a chance to talk to those directly involved in the crisis including Lasha Zhvania, a parliamentarian and head of the Georgian delegation, Alexander Kozlovsky, a senior Russian parliamentarian, and Joao Soares, the President of the OSCE.



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