Conflict Resolution in the Caucasus: A Security Political Up-Date 2006

When the EU released its Wider-Europe Strategy during 2003, the Caucasus was not included and Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were litterally reduced to a footnote.An increased interest has been seen since, but the EU´s lukewarm attention nonetheless risks becoming a backlash. Since, regardless of the stand of the EU, the Caucasus will become increasingly important for the EU:s expansion development and expansion. The starting point of the study is, therefore, that the EU, and thus also Sweden, along with the actors of the Caucasus must understand each other better if relations are to be rewarding and problems are to be avoided. Hence, the aim of this study is to provide an overview of the conflict resolution processes of the Caucasus. The objective is to illuminate the most important issues that have affected the development during 2006 and show what the EU will be put up against. One result is that open war has been replaced by low intensive conflicts, but a part from that - no progress has been made . In fact, none of the conflict resolution processes has moved since they once started. At best, the endevours have resulted in renewed efforts and renewed talks. As it seems, Russia´s involvement is the most critical factor for future resolutions in all of the conflicts.