Post-Conflict Georgia

Shortly after the release of the Atlantic Council’s report, Restoring Georgia’s Sovereignty in Abkhazia, in the summer of 2008 Russia invaded Georgia and war broke out over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. The United States and its European partners were put to the test; Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia not only challenged Georgia’s sovereignty, but by demonstrating its willingness to use military action, Moscow also sent a message about Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations as well as the viability of energy transport projects running from the Caspian, through Georgia, to western markets.

In this light, the Atlantic Council considered it a matter of urgency to revisit the issue of Georgia’s future. This report on Post-Conflict Georgia was prepared by David L. Phillips, a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States, and director of its “Forum on Georgia and the Caucasus.” Post-Conflict Georgia outlines the tasks facing the Georgian government and the international community, which has a stake in Georgia’s future. It makes important recommendations in support of Georgia’s reconstruction and continued democratization.

The report reflects the findings from the author’s recent fact-finding trip to Georgia on September 13-17, 2008, which involved meetings with Georgian government officials, Georgian civil society, opposition figures, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and representatives of the international community. Post-Conflict Georgia is the first product of the Atlantic Council’s new Forum on Georgia and the Caucasus.

• Primary Source

ACUS: Restoring Georgia’s Sovereignty in Abkhazia, 2008 http://www.acus.org/publication/restoring-georgias-sovereignty-abkhazia

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