All this Ossetia talk and...

[HAL 9000 96]

Just to ponder. Georgia gives away the part of S. Ossetia that is ethnically Ossetian and Russia gives away the part of N. Ossetia that is ethnically Ossetian. The nation of Ossetia is born. Behold such a beautiful new member to the Family of Nations.

Russia pays reparations to Georgia for war-related damages and Georgia pays the newly-formed nation of Ossetia damages for the causalties inflicted during the campaign to prevent domestic rebellion.

[almaty 19]

i think the areas both wish to be part of russian and identify with russia ....the issue is when the soviet union broke up it was georgia's terrority..and an agreement with yetlsin was reached, where russian peace keepers could be present to protect the interest of the dominant russian population..there lies the issue, over time georgia has resented this and russian, has given the populace russian passports....

[HAL 9000 96]

Very interesting.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Well, Russia WILL probably support a NOMINALLY independent South Ossetia (which will be only as independent of Russia as "Azad Kashmir" is of Pakistan).

Edited August 13, 2008 by CherryXS

[HAL 9000 96]

Anything to get the territory out of Georgia's hands.

They can always offer up oil rights to Georgia and vis-a-vis, the USA. I promise you that then you'll have GWB singing a different tune.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Anything to get the territory out of Georgia's hands.

They can always offer up oil rights to Georgia and vis-a-vis, the USA. I promise you that then you'll have GWB singing a different tune.

Doubtful they'll do that--until they give Georgia the exact same "independence" (see my earlier post mentioning Azad Kashmir relative to Pakistan) as Ossetia.

[412 0]

North Ossetia has no desire to secede from the Russian federation.

. . .dominant russian population..

Population of Tskhinvali is 65% Ossetin, under 3% Russian according to the 1989 census.

[HAL 9000 96]

Thanks for clearing that up. So the S. Ossetians have Russian passports?

[412 0]

Thanks for clearing that up. So the S. Ossetians have Russian passports?

The passports were not issued mandatory, the population could get Georgian passports if they would choose so, however they preferred Russian ones. I am also pretty certain tat there were some sort of South Ossetian passports as well.