Russia's Obstructive Foreign Policy Steps Against Georgia On The Way Of Its Integration Into Euro-Atlantic Institutions

After the collapse of the Soviet-Union Georgia,as one of the former fourteen member counties of the union,got independence and accordingly relations between Russia and Georgia fundamentally changed,Russia lost great proportion of influence in the south Caucasus region and it was one of its strategic losses in the space of the former Soviet-Union countries.Georgia as Russia's immediate neighbor chose western foreign policy direction,particularly,aspiration to become member of the military organization NATO and economic organization European Union.Fulfillment in practice Georgia's foreign policy goals drastically reduces Russia's already weakened influence in the region and allows NATO to locate its military bases across the Russia's actual border line,what is,as it has been stated by Russian government officials many times,Russia's national security threat.Even more,Russian generals and high-rank military officials openly claim that they will never allow on the one hand Georgia to be a member of the NATO and on the other hand NATO to affiliate Georgia as its plenipotentiary member.In spite of Georgia's readiness to be a member of the NATO there are political reasons why majority of the member states of alliance abstain from admitting Georgia to be affiliated as a member state.Political reasons are generated from Russia's open radical attitude towards the issue.Russia perceives Georgia as a member of NATO as its immanent threat in the vicinity of Russia's state border and further weakening,already its weakened,influence in the south Caucasus region.Russia's intervention in Georgia in 2008 is the factual evidence and a clear message to the west that what will happen if NATO further expresses its willingness to incorporate Georgia in the alliance.Russia's invasion of Georgia in 2008 happened right after the NATO Bucharest summit where Georgia was promised by the member states of alliance that Georgia would be granted Membership Action Plan(MAP)what was a clear indication for Russia that it was very time to show the west its position towards Georgia as a MAP holder country.Clear message made by the Russian general is another clear indication how Russian government would react if Georgia is given Membership action plan what is a precondition for every country to become member of the organization.The most pressure point what Russia holds against Georgia is Georgia's break away regions Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia,which regions are actively used by Russian government as a tool of sending clear messages to the west over the issues related to Georgia's aspiration toward European institutions.This apparent threat coming from Russia to Georgia's foreign policy choice is nothing else than an obvious obstruction of the independent country's foreign policy direction to be a part of the NATO and EU.Russia influences head of the European countries' leaders as well.By delivering direct and clear messages against the Georgia's foreign policy aspiration Russia strictly warns European countries about the further possible conflict in case of Georgia is incorporated in the NATO.When it comes to Georgia's integration to the EU Russia's attitude is slightly different to this issue,it is not as radical as it is in the case of NATO.But,it should be mentioned that,Georgia's integration into EU deprives Russia of economic influence on the region.In terms of energy security issue,Russia loses its significance to the great extent if Trans-Caspian natural resources are able to be relived to Europe through Georgia.This is the most pressing issue what Russia truly would not like to see in the picture.For example,oil pipe lines like BAKU-TBILISI-CYHAN,BAKUTBILISI-ERZRUM significantly decreases Europe's dependence on Russia in terms of natural resources supply and accordingly Russia will have one less trump card in the toolkit of its foreign policy to exert influence on Europe.Why did not Europe stand united in their political actions towards Russia? We finally,come to the point that,the key to understanding the EU's attitude to Georgia is the factor of Russia.Without taking Russia into account it is impossible to explain why the EU's policy towards Georgia and the entire South Caucasus has been so slow and cautious.Today when Europe receives significant amount of energy resources such as natural gas and oil as well as raw materials from Russia,the European leaders have been reluctant to spoil their relationship with Russia for such a small country as Georgia.This was the case even when Russia was directly breaching international law,for instance,violating Georgia's air space or indirectly supporting the separatist regimes in the secessionist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.Being increasingly dependent on Russian energy resources,many European countries have chosen to ignore Mr.Putin's autocratic excesses and to turn a blind eye to the damage Russia inflicts on Georgia.