UN Security Council releases statement on 11th anniversary of Russia-Georgia war
The joint statement reads that progress has not been made on conflict resolution since the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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 joint statement reads that progress has not been made on conflict resolution since the conflict between Russia and Georgia and the signing of the ceasefire agreement of August 12. The sides firmly support Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
The statement indicates that Russia’s recognition of the so-called independence of South-Ossetia and Abkhazia 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 neighbours and for the rules-based international order.
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations in New York wrote on Twitter:
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 sides reaffirmed in the statement that they are extremely concerned about the intensification of the so-called borderisation process.
These acts prolong the conflict, while destabilising Georgia and the region as a whole. Today we call again on the Russian Federation to fully implement her obligations under the Agreements of 12 August and 8 September 2008 to ensure that armed forces withdraw to positions held before hostilities began, and to establish an international security mechanism”, read the statement.
The countries reiterated 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.
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 released a joint statement on the eleventh anniversary of 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
Georgian diplomatic missions abroad have lowered flags to half-mast on the 11th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia War. The flags have been at half-mast for two days (August 7-8). Georgian national flags are also flying at half-mast today on all government buildings across the country.
Diplomats and government officials from Europe took to Twitter this week to voice their support for Georgia's territorial integrity and condemn the ongoing Russian occupation of the country's regions on the 11th anniversary of the 2008 war.
The Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a recent news briefing that on the eleventh anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, “Georgian and Western media and politicians are again trying to play the ‘borderisation’ card”.