Russian President Dmitry Medvedev isn't afraid of a cold war. At least, that's the impression that we're getting out of this latest report from ABC News.
Medvedev, in a statement, said that “We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a new Cold War. But we don't want it and in this situation, everything depends on the position of our partners. If they want to preserve good relations with Russia in the west, (then) they will understand our decision”.
In response, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice reiterated that both South Ossetia and Abkhazia are “part of the internationally recognized borders of Georgia”.
From Texas, White House spokesman Tony Fratto slammed Russia for its latest statement, calling it “irrational”, and warned that the independence of these 2 regions would put the whole world at risk. Fratto said that the US would use its veto power on the UN Security Council to ensure that any plans for South Ossetia and Abkhazia to become independent would be “dead on arrival”.
The conflict between Russia and Georgia allegedly broke out when Russia encouraged 2 states which broke away from Georgian control, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, to become fully independent. There have been reports that Russia wants to suck Georgia back in to resemble the days of the former Soviet Union. Surely, former President Vladimir Putin, now Russian Prime Minister, has a lot to do with this.
