Georgia official dies in blast

[Dover]

Source: Al Jazeera

Giorgi Mebonia, the governor of the Tsalenjikha district of Georgia, has been killed in an explosion close to the border with Abkhazia.

A Georgian villager also died in the attack and a police officer was injured, in the village of Mujava on Saturday, according to officials.

The Georgian interior ministry told Al Jazeera that Mebonia's car was hit by a explosive device and the convoy was fired at, but it is not known who fired the shots.

A Georgian police officer travelling with the group told Russian television that shots came without warning "from the Russian side".

Matt Siegel, an Associated Press journalist, told Al Jazeera: "The Georgians are saying that they have found an antenna from this device which indicates that it was remotely detonated.

"They have blamed the Abkhaz separatist government and the Russians." ...>



Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/10/200810251351038353.html

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Russia and some EU countries are against certain Balkan states joining NATO, so might the killing of Mebonia be Russia's response to this?...>


Bush signs Balkan NATO agreements
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2008/10/2008102504926527168.html


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The Caucasian conflict in the context of world politics

....But Russia's position on this issue is just the opposite. The closer Georgia is to NATO, the more resolute steps Moscow will take toward recognizing the territories which Georgia no longer controls, because Tbilisi could see some of NATO's formal commitments as a chance to resolve the conflicts militarily.

The United States has been contributing to the tension. Six months before the end of his presidency, George W. Bush badly needs some international success, if he does not want to be remembered for a chain of failures. Approval of the Mem­bership Action Plan for Ukraine and Georgia (or at least one of them) at NATO's ministerial meeting next December is fast becoming his only chance to leave a tangible achievement.

This is why Washington is being more vocal in its support for Georgia and bringing more pressure to bear on those of its European allies who question the wisdom of such a course. One example is the recent visit to Tbilisi by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Needless to say, Georgia perceives Washington's unequivocal position as a green light to take more active steps.

Tensions are likely to reach a peak in late fall. In December, the current U.S. administration will make its last attempt to push through the Mem­bership Action Plan. As a prelude to this, Washington will sharply step up its political activities, thereby increasing the risk of armed conflicts in the region.

http://www.mnweekly.ru/politics/20080807/55340758.html