COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS: No Comparison Between Kosovo And South Ossetia (rferl.org)

August 17, 2008 By Paul R. Williams

In intervening in the conflict in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia has asserted that its actions are justified in part on the legal precedent established by Kosovo's independence. But there is no "Kosovo precedent." Every international situation must be considered individually on the basis of its history and the circumstances of the conflict, and sought-for solutions must best meet the interests of the peoples involved.
Although analogies may be drawn and arguments may be made for the existence of a precedent, they won't resolve the conflict in South Ossetia. In fact, such analogies actually underscore the differences between Kosovo and South Ossetia, rather than build a compelling case for precedent.

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