Why Good Translators Are Important

Bad French Prolongs Russia-Georgia Conflict -- The Telegraph

The conflict between Russia and Georgia has been worsened by badly-translated French, France's foreign minister has admitted on the eve of crucial talks in Moscow between the European Union and the Kremlin.

Last month's ceasefire agreement centred around the creation of "buffer zones" between Russia and the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia which are now effectively controlled by the Kremlin. The agreement was brokered by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president whose country currently holds the EU presidency. But the original diplomatic coup became an embarrassing failure as Russia failed to move its troops off the main body of Georgia.

Bernard Kouchner told a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the weekend that the ceasefire agreement was written in French before being translated into English and then Russian. Asked what problems surrounded the buffer zones, Mr Kouchner replied: "The translation, as always."

Last month's five day conflict in Georgia cost hundreds of lives, with many more injured and made homeless. Russia has redrawn the map of Europe and opened a new threatening chapter in its relations with the West.

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My Comment: What a farce. When I read the Russian websites, their interpretation of the ceasefire agreement appeared strange in that (according to them) they were following the conditions of the agreement .... and they could not understand why the West was reacting the way that it was.

Now we know why. The English version of the agreement is different from the Russian version.

Talk about bad communication.

Talk about a disaster.