fedya,
For your lovely plan to work it would demand sustained cooperation between Azeris, Georgians, Armenians and the Turks (the likelihood of that happening, even during good times, we will pass over for the moment) in the teeth of both the Iranians (who have been working on the Kurds) and the Russians who are increasing their pressure and presence in the region. The Chinese are heavily invested in Iranian gas fields and may support a grand bargain with the Russians to divide the region up against the Americans. If Russia controls, pardon me guarantees, the European energy supplies then America will be shut out. Better for us then if Putin really loses so he can’t get control over the Caspian routes. We should insist that the final settlement stipulate that there will be full protection for all Ossettians and Abkhazians as per the protocols in effect under the status quo ante bellum, However we should also insist that all persons holding Russian passports must depart the territory of the Republic of Georgia. The most damaging innovation Putin brought to this game was reflagging the local minority inhabitants by handing out Russian passports and then having his UN ambassador complain on the News Hour that the Georgians had killed Russian citizens so Putin’s army had to move in to protect them.