UN Ambassadors support Georgia, call on Russia to withdraw forces on 11th anniversary of 2008 Russia-Georgia war
Russia recognised independence of two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
The permanent representatives of Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States to the United Nations released a joint statement on the eleventh anniversary of 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
UNSC – Stake-out:
— Belgium UN New York (@BelgiumUN) August 8, 2019
11 years since August 2008 Georgia-Russia war:
EU6 ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? & USA ???????? reiterate their full support for Georgia’s sovereignty& territorial integrity. Regret lack of progress & call on Russia to fully implement its obligations under agreements of 2008. pic.twitter.com/ZZvdEtOiYy
Karen Van Vlierberge, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to UN read out the statement on behalf of other Security Council members.
We firmly support Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders”, she stated.
Ambassador Van Vlierberge also underscored that Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and "the deepening of its security relationship with both de facto authorities demonstrate a lack of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors and for the rules-based international order”.
Today,statement was delivered @UNHQ by @VanVlierberge on behalf of BE,FR,DE,PL,GB & US, & incoming #UNSC member #Estonia, on #Georgia.We regret little progress on conflict resolution & firmly support GE’s territorial integrity.We call on #Russia to implement IntlLaw obligations. pic.twitter.com/q1bfXkwPxT
— Estonia in UN ???????? (@EstoniaUN) August 8, 2019
The UN Ambassadors said that they “are extremely concerned about the intensification of the so-called borderisation process”. They consider that “these acts prolong the conflict, while destabilising Georgia and the region as a whole”.
Therefore, they again called on Russia “to fully implement” its international obligations, which includes commitments:
- to ensure that armed forces withdraw to positions held before hostilities began
- to establish an international security mechanism
7 August 2019 marked 11 years since conflict between Russia & #Georgia
— La France à l'ONU (@franceonu) August 8, 2019
At Security Council stake out, ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????reaffirm support to Georgia’s independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders pic.twitter.com/p8ZKMQpUHb
They also reiterate their support “for the respect and protection of the human rights of IDPs and refugees in particular with regard to their voluntary, safe, dignified and unhindered return to their homes in accordance with international law”.
At #UNSC stakeout, ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? jointly express support for Georgia's independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity. All parties are encouraged to redouble their efforts within the Geneva International Discussions.
— German Mission to UN (@GermanyUN) August 8, 2019
???? Full statement: https://t.co/R7W3Ge3Hc0#GERinUNSC pic.twitter.com/JWbiX7Yp5W
The statement further underscores that the topic of refugees and IDPs “is at the core of the mandate of the Geneva International Discussions”. However, “despite the initial promise of progress towards reconciliation, we regret the lack of commitment and progress achieved in this format”.
Joint press stake-out by ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? following #UNSC consultations to mark 11 yrs since the conflict between #Russia & #Georgia: We firmly support Georgia’s independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
— Poland in the UN (@PLinUN) August 8, 2019
Full statement ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Y7Si7VYSx6
The ambassadors call on the authorities “exercising effective control” over the two Russian occupied regions of Georgia “to facilitate access to these regions for the relevant humanitarian and human rights actors”.
They“remain steadfast” in their support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia and encourage all parties “to redouble their efforts within the Geneva International Discussions”.
On the 11th Anniversary of the Russia-Georgia conflict, #AmbCohen stands with #UNSC members to urge Russia to withdraw its forces from the occupied territories, halt #HumanRights violations of citizens in this region, and work towards a peaceful #resolution of the conflict. pic.twitter.com/93hTo5jmXp
— US Mission to the UN (@USUN) August 8, 2019
August 8, 2008 is the most tragic day in the recent history of Georgia when the five-day war between Russia and Georgia claimed the lives of 412 people, including 170 military servicemen, 14 policemen and 228 civilians.
Georgian national flags were flying at half-mast on August 7 and 8 on all government buildings across the country as well as on diplomatic missions abroad.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, President Salome Zurabishvili and other state officials paid tribute today to the victims of the five-day war between Russia and Georgia of 2008. PM Bakhtadze said at the Mukhadgverdi cemetery that the Russian occupation of Georgia is “the pain that should unite us all” despite the differences in political views.
Eleven years after the Russia-Georgia war the United Kingdom remains committed “to the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and a peaceful future for all”. The UK Ambassador to Georgia Justin McKenzie Smith released a statement on his official Twitter account both in English and Georgian.
The United States Acting Ambassador to Georgia Elisabeth Rood visited the settlement of Tserovani nearby the capital of Tbilisi, where internally displaced people (IDPs) have been living since the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. “In the 11 years since the Russian invasion of Georgia, each of these houses has come to tell a story of loss – the loss of families, friends, homes, and loved ones”, she said
Georgian national flags are flying at half-mast today on all government buildings across the country to commemorate the eleventh anniversary of the most tragic day in the recent history of the country – the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in 2008.
The United States “will not stop working until Russia ends its occupation of sovereign Georgian territory”, the US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said at a news briefing last night.
The permanent representatives of Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States to the United Nations have released a joint statement on the eleventh anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war following a UN Security Council session.
The Russian Embassy to the United States said in a statement put out yesterday that Russia “came to the rescue” of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and “prevented an act of genocide”. The statement comes in response to the Department of State, which has promised on the eleventh anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war of August 8 that the US “will not stop working until Russia ends its occupation of sovereign Georgian territory”.