One can only speculate as to the reasons that drove the Georgian government at this particular moment to send its troops to attack its breakaway province of South Ossetia, or whether its closest ally, the US, has given its approval for such a step. In any case, after 3 days of heavy fighting, and the tragic deaths of hundreds of civilians and young soldiers, the status quo has almost been returned, with the possible exception that in the future South Ossetia will resist even more being ruled by the central government in Tbilisi.

When both Georgia and Russia joined the Council of Europe they both solemnly agreed & signed the convention to solve conflicts by peaceful means. Neither government has kept its promise - neither the Georgian government by its unprovoked attack, nor the Russian government by its (usual) not measured retaliation.

What a contrast! At the recent YTNF mid-evaluation seminar, Georgians and Russians were peacefully discussing and partying together, as if they had been friends all their lives. At this moment, 20 young international volunteers including many from the CIS and neighbouring states are travelling throughout Europe bringing the SCI message of peaceful conflict resolution to hundreds of other young people in international workcamps.

President Saakashvili belongs to a young generation of politicians ruling our countries who have never experienced the horrors of the Second World War. If they had, they would probably think twice before unleashing their armies to try and gain political power by military force. The Caucasus is a powder-keg and Caucasians are hot-blooded people - all the more reason to get back to the negociating table and allow common sense, empathy and mutual respect to find solutions to such complicated conflicts as the one between Georgia and Russia.

John Myers/Senior Manager YTNF