Turmoil in the former Soviet Union as well as the multilateral system

War and Peace @ 19.06.2010, 6:45

DWarner

Politologist

It is a small mountainous country with the second largest mountain lake in the world, Lake Issyk Kul. Recent events have shown that beneath the tranquil surface there has been growing tensions. First, President Bakiyev was disposed in a coup d’etat in April. He had been propelled into power in 2005 by the Tulip Revolution. In spite of several attempts to legitimize his authority by elections and a new constitution, he had become more and more contested and was finally ousted in violent protests and is living in exile in Belarus. The current, provisional government is headed by former foreign minister Roza Otunbayeva.

    Violence has once again broken out in Kyrgyzstan. What has been described as ethnic conflict has seen bloodshed between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks with the provisional government losing control of large areas in the southern part of the country. Several hundred Uzbeks have been killed, with the United Nations reporting over 300,000 fleeing and 75,000 entering Uzbekistan. The situation has become a humanitarian disaster with urgent calls for relief and assistance.

    Besides the humanitarian crisis, there are several political questions that should be addressed. First, with the ouster of President Bakiyev, no formal central authority was established. A provisional government is a provisional government with no recognized legitimacy at home and abroad. Even in a small country such as Kyrgyzstan, a degree of stability with clear lines of authority is important.

    Second, and in terms of clear lines of authority, there seems to be no outside help prepared or capable of intervening beyond humanitarian assistance. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, under the rotating chairmanship of Kazakhstan, has tried to take the lead, but, once again, interblocking institutional infighting has caused unnecessary delays. I quote a June 12 press release from the OSCE concerning activities by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Saudabayev: “Saudabayev also held telephone consultations with the UN Secretary Ban-Ki moon, the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, and Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu”. Each party consulted said it was willing to send special envoys and to cooperate, according to the press release. In addition, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities has called for international assistance to stabilize the situation.

    Stopping violence within a country is the obligation of the national government. After all, according to Max Weber, the very definition of the state is the organ with the legitimate control of violence. If the government is unwilling or incapable of controlling violence, we look to the international community to intervene. This is what the responsibility to protect is all about which has been recognized by the international community. Beside humanitarian assistance, who is protecting the Uzbek population?

    Phone calls and consultations are necessary but not sufficient. The interblocking nature of multilateral institutions has, for the moment, shown its weakness and the Uzbek minority in southern Kyrgyzstan appear to be paying the price.