TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS EXPERT PRESENTS HIS BOOK ON THE CONFLICT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA
The book “A Little War That Shook the World: Georgia, Russia and the Future of the West” by Ronald Asmus was presented on 22 January in Vilnius. The author is the Executive Director of the Brussels-based Transatlantic Center and responsible for Strategic Planning at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. The book takes us behind the scenes, explores the run-up to and the causes of the Russia-Georgia conflict that exploded in August 2008, as well as the reactions of Western countries to it.
The author R.Asmus himself presented the book. Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas spoke at the event, which was moderated by Member of the Seimas (Parliament) Emanuelis Zingeris.
“I have written this book, because I was one of those who saw the war approaching. I was in Georgia several months before the war and I got very disappointed that other people were not able to see it the way I did. In my opinion, this war should have been prevented,” the author said.
According to R.Asmus, the conflict’s root cause was not Abkhazia or South Ossetia, despite the underlying tensions there. According to the expert, the events of 2008 are related to Georgia’s determination to go West and Russia’s attempt to stop this process.
In 1997-2000, R.Asmus served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs.
The presentation of the book is the first event that was organised as part of Lithuania’s Development Cooperation programme for Georgia. This programme aims to draw public attention to the victims of war and the situation of the Georgian children, who live in refugee camps now. A joint concert of Lithuanian and Georgian performers is also planned. The concert and this campaign will raise money to help the children of Georgia.
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