by Subhadeep Dasgupta

Created on: October 24, 2008

On 27th August 2008, there was an article posted by BBC News "Testing for a new cold war in Crimea". Crimea has a strategic importance in the Black Sea region as it holds the Russian Navy Fleet at Sevastopol, but it is a part of Ukraine. Crimea has 2 million inhabitants and majority are ethnic Russians. The article gave an impression that Russia is trying to create a civil agitation on these regions with a view to merge them with the Russian confederation. The article portrayed the recent border disputes between Russia-Ukraine, Russia-Georgia or Russia-Moldova and had an indirect expression of presenting a Russian ambition to get back its lost territories post Soviet Union dissolution at 1991.

A similar article after a week of South Ossetia War was posted in Washington Post with interviews of the Georgian Ambassador to US, Vasil Sikharulidze who claims that Russia was overpowering and negating political and economic reforms on Balkan regions and countries adjoining to the Black Sea. The interview had sharp remarks on the Russian foreign policy doctrine for this region and glorified the US humanitarian aids and reforms related to Georgia, Ukraine and other adjoining areas.

White House press release implemented a new foreign policy to aid Georgia with a multiyear commitment of $1 billion as economic reforms. It commented on US beneficial strategies for Georgia's humanitarian needs, socio-economic and political development. In 1995, under similar circumstances and reasons Georgia was funded by World Bank and International Monetary Fund with a credit of $206 million and Germany granting DM 50 million.

Interestingly, statistics shows that Georgian economy is fastest growing economy in Eastern Europe with an enormous 12% GDP growth rate. Within 5 years since 2001, the national poverty line of Georgia has decrease by a staggering 20%, and average gross household monthly income was 200 USD. Comparing this economic reform with others adjoining countries, Georgia is getting an icing on the cake. US is ensuring to solve the high unemployment rate in Georgia with an annual $150 million investments on private and oil sectors.

So, what does the US media and government are trying to achieve in the South Caucasian regions?

During, the cold war era, the political polarity was divided into two superpowers Soviet Union and USA. But, since 1991 after Soviet Union breakup there has been a shift of political paradigm towards US with Russia being a second fiddle. However, with the break

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