26.08.08
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced Tuesday that Moscow has recognized the Georgian separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent. The following is the
Kremlin translation of Medvedev's televised address:
My dear fellow countrymen, citizens of Russia!
You are no doubt well aware of the tragedy of South Ossetia. The nighttime execution-style bombardment of Tskhinval by the Georgian troops resulted in the deaths of hundreds of our civilians. Among the dead were the Russian peacekeepers, who gave their lives in fulfilling their duty to protect women, children and the elderly.
The Georgian leadership, in violation of the UN Charter and their obligations under international agreements and contrary to the voice of reason, unleashed an armed conflict victimizing innocent civilians. The same fate lay in store for Abkhazia. Obviously, they in Tbilisi hoped for a blitzkrieg that would have confronted the world community with an accomplished fact. The most inhuman way was chosen to achieve the objective — annexing South Ossetia trough the annihilation of a whole people.
That was not the first attempt to do this. In 1991, President Gamsahourdia of Georgia, having proclaimed the motto "Georgia for Georgians" — just think about it! — ordered attacks on the cities of Sukhum and Tskhinval. The result then was thousands of killed people, dozens of thousands of refugees and devastated villages. And it was Russia who at that time put an end to the eradication of the Abkhaz and Ossetian peoples. Our country came forward as a mediator and peacekeeper insisting on a political settlement. In doing so we were invariably guided by the recognition of Georgia's territorial integrity.
The Georgian leadership chose another way. Disrupting the negotiating process, ignoring the agreements achieved, committing political and military provocations, attacking the peacekeepers — all these actions grossly violated the regime established in conflict zones with the support of the United Nations and OSCE.
Russia continually displayed calm and patience. We repeatedly called for returning to the negotiating table and did not deviate from this position of ours even after the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence. However our persistent proposals to the Georgian side to conclude agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on the nonuse of force remained unanswered. Regrettably, they were ignored also by NATO and even at the United Nations.
It stands quite clear now: a peaceful resolution of the conflict was not part of Tbilisi's plan. The Georgian leadership was methodically preparing for war, while the political and material support provided by their foreign guardians only served to reinforce the perception of their own impunity.
Tbilisi made its choice during the night of August 8, 2008. Saakashvili opted for genocide to accomplish his political objectives. By doing so he himself dashed all the hopes for the peaceful coexistence of Ossetians, Abkhazians and Georgians in a single state. The peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have several times spoken out at referendums in favor of independence for their republics. It is our understanding that after what has happened in Tskhinval and what has been planned for Abkhazia they have the right to decide their destiny by themselves.
The Presidents of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, based on the results of the referendums conducted and on the decisions taken by the Parliaments of the two republics, appealed to Russia to recognize the state sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Federation Council and the State Duma voted in support of those appeals.
A decision needs to be taken based on the situation on the ground. Considering the freely expressed will of the Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples and being guided by the provisions of the UN Charter, the 1970 Declaration on the Principles of International Law Governing Friendly Relations Between States, the CSCE Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and other fundamental international instruments, I signed Decrees on the recognition by the Russian Federation of
South Ossetia's and Abkhazia's independence.
Russia calls on other states to follow its example. This is not an easy choice to make, but it represents the only possibility to save human lives.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Free Abkhazia!
20.08.08 Abkhazia will launch a formal appeal Wednesday for Russia to recognise it as an independent country, the deputy speaker of Abkhazia's parliament said today.
"The people of Abkhazia intend to ask the Russian leadership to recognise Abkhazia," said the republic's deputy speaker Vyacheslav Tsugba.
Abkhazia's parliament will consider an independence appeal to the Russian leadership by the region's leader Sergei Bagapsh, Tsugba said.
A broad assembly with representatives of all the region's political parties and movements will meet on a square in the centre of the capital Sukhumi to finally approve the appeal, he said.
The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, a close Kremlin ally, said Wednesday that lawmakers were ready to recognise the independence of separatist regions in Georgia.
"The Federation Council is ready to recognise the independent status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if that is what the people of these republics want and also if there is a corresponding decision by the Russian president," Sergei Mironov was quoted as saying.
"The people of Abkhazia intend to ask the Russian leadership to recognise Abkhazia," said the republic's deputy speaker Vyacheslav Tsugba.
Abkhazia's parliament will consider an independence appeal to the Russian leadership by the region's leader Sergei Bagapsh, Tsugba said.
A broad assembly with representatives of all the region's political parties and movements will meet on a square in the centre of the capital Sukhumi to finally approve the appeal, he said.
The speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, a close Kremlin ally, said Wednesday that lawmakers were ready to recognise the independence of separatist regions in Georgia.
"The Federation Council is ready to recognise the independent status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if that is what the people of these republics want and also if there is a corresponding decision by the Russian president," Sergei Mironov was quoted as saying.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Washington Post Gets It Wrong!
This article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081801851.html
really missed the point.
It refers to the Russian "invasion" of Georgia. It does not come as a surprise that the Washington Post is partially closing down!
The fact is that Georgia attacked South Ossetia. Why are there no references to the Georgian invasion of Ossetia?
Could it have anything to do with the fact that Georgian President Saakashvili is a friend of U.S. President Bush?
Is this one of Bush's last efforts to control oil and power in the region? He has failed in Iraq. He has failed in Afghanistan. He will fail in the Caucasus!
really missed the point.
It refers to the Russian "invasion" of Georgia. It does not come as a surprise that the Washington Post is partially closing down!
The fact is that Georgia attacked South Ossetia. Why are there no references to the Georgian invasion of Ossetia?
Could it have anything to do with the fact that Georgian President Saakashvili is a friend of U.S. President Bush?
Is this one of Bush's last efforts to control oil and power in the region? He has failed in Iraq. He has failed in Afghanistan. He will fail in the Caucasus!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
South Ossetia and Abkhazia: Not Part of Georgia
President Dmitry Medvedev added his signature to a French peace plan already endorsed by Georgia and by South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said withdrawal would depend on extra security measures ordered by Medvedev, the nature of which was not made clear.
Asked how long the withdrawal might take, Lavrov told reporters: "This does not just depend on us." He blamed the difficult situation on the ground for delays.
Despite the peace deal, a gulf still separates Moscow and Tbilisi over the future of the rebel regions, which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s and declared independence, albeit without international recognition.
U.S. President George Bush echoed the Georgian position on Saturday, saying South Ossetia and Abkhazia were part of Georgia "and there's no room for debate on this matter."
But Lavrov has already told the West to "forget about Georgia's territorial integrity," saying the facts on the ground dictate a different reality.
Russia says 1,600 civilians died when Georgia stormed South Ossetia, though the figure has not been independently verified. Georgia says at least 175 people have been killed and hundreds more injured. The figure does not include South Ossetia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said withdrawal would depend on extra security measures ordered by Medvedev, the nature of which was not made clear.
Asked how long the withdrawal might take, Lavrov told reporters: "This does not just depend on us." He blamed the difficult situation on the ground for delays.
Despite the peace deal, a gulf still separates Moscow and Tbilisi over the future of the rebel regions, which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s and declared independence, albeit without international recognition.
U.S. President George Bush echoed the Georgian position on Saturday, saying South Ossetia and Abkhazia were part of Georgia "and there's no room for debate on this matter."
But Lavrov has already told the West to "forget about Georgia's territorial integrity," saying the facts on the ground dictate a different reality.
Russia says 1,600 civilians died when Georgia stormed South Ossetia, though the figure has not been independently verified. Georgia says at least 175 people have been killed and hundreds more injured. The figure does not include South Ossetia.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)