Day: August 12, 2008

Sergei Lavrov: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation!


Why Russia’s response to Georgia was right: posted in the Financial Times.

Sergei Lavrov

For some of those witnessing the fighting in the Caucasus over the past few days, the narrative is straightforward and easy. The plucky republic of Georgia, with just a few million citizens, was attacked by its giant eastern neighbour, Russia. Add to this all the stereotypes of the cold war era, and you are presented with a truly David and Goliath interpretation – with all its accompanying connotations of good and evil. While this version of events is being written in much of the western media, the facts present a different picture.

Let me be absolutely clear. This is not a conflict of Russia’s making; this is not a conflict of Russia’s choosing. There are no winners from this conflict. Hours before the Georgian invasion, Russia had been working to secure a United Nations Security Council statement calling for a renunciation of force by both Georgia and South Ossetians. The statement that could have averted bloodshed was blocked by western countries.

Last Friday, after the world’s leaders had arrived at the Beijing Olympics, Georgian troops launched an all-out assault on the region of South Ossetia, which has enjoyed de facto independence for more than 16 years. The majority of the region’s population are Russian citizens. Under the terms of the 1992 agreement to which Georgia is a party, they are afforded protection by a small number of Russian peacekeeping soldiers. The ground and air attack resulted in the killing of peacekeepers and the death of an estimated 1,600 civilians, creating a humanitarian disaster and leading to an exodus of 30,000 refugees. The Georgian regime refused to allow a humanitarian corridor to be established and bombarded a humanitarian convoy. There is also clear evidence of atrocities having been committed – so serious and systematic that they constitute acts of genocide.

There can be little surprise, therefore, that Russia responded to this unprovoked assault on its citizens by launching a military incursion into South Ossetia. No country in the world would idly stand by as its citizens are killed and driven from their homes. Russia repeatedly warned Tbilisi that it would protect its citizens by force if necessary, and its actions are entirely consistent with international law, including article 51 of the UN charter on the right of self-defence.

Russia has been entirely proportionate in its military response to Georgia’s attack on Russian citizens and peacekeepers. Russia’s tactical objective has been to force Georgian troops out of the region, which is off limits to them under international agreements. Despite Georgia’s assertion that it had imposed a unilateral ceasefire, Russian peacekeepers and supporting troops remained under continued attack – a fact confirmed by observers and journalists in the region. Russia had no choice but to target the military infrastructure outside the region being used to sustain the Georgian offensive. Russia’s response has been targeted, proportionate and legitimate.

Russia has been accused of using the conflict to try to topple the government and impose control over the country. This is palpable nonsense. Having established the safety of the region, the president has declared an end to military operations. Russia has no intention of annexing or occupying any part of Georgia and has again affirmed its respect for its sovereignty. Over the next few days, on the condition that Georgia refrains from military activity and keeps its forces out of the region, Russia will continue to take the diplomatic steps required to consolidate this temporary cessation of hostilities.

Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president, has stated that “unless we stop Russia, unless the whole world stops it, Russian tanks will go to any European capital tomorrow”, adding on a separate occasion that “it’s not about Georgia any more. It’s about America”. It is clear that Georgia wants this dispute to become something more than a short if bloody conflict in the region. For decision-makers in the Nato countries of the west, it would be worth considering whether in future you want the men and women of your armed services to be answerable to Mr Saakashvili’s declarations of war in the Caucasus.

Russia is a member of the Security Council, of the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations and partner with the west on issues as varied as the Middle East, Iran and North Korea. In keeping with its responsibilities as a world power and the guarantor of stability in the Caucasus, Russia will work to ensure a peaceful and lasting resolution to the situation in the region.

The writer is minister of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation

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Thank You Sergei Lavrov for a good article.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: The 6 principles to resolve S.Ossetia crisis


1. The first is not to resort to the use of force.

2. The second is to halt all military action.

3. The third is free access to humanitarian aid.

4. The fourth is that Georgian Armed Forces should return to their bases.

5. The fifth is that Russian Armed Forces should pull back to their positions prior to combat.

6. The sixth is the beginning of international discussions on the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and on ways to ensure their security.

” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told a news conference with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy.”

Sounds fair to me. What about you?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

CNN Steals War Footage and Then Changes Facts!


American broadcaster CNN has been accused of using misleading footage in their coverage of the conflict in South Ossetia. A Russian cameraman says footage of wrecked tanks and ruined buildings, which was purported to be the town of Gori, was in fact the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali.

Gori was said to be about to fall under the control of the Russian army but the cameraman says the video was actually shot in Tskhinvali, which had been flattened by Georgian shelling.

Aleksandr Zhukov, from the Russiya Al-Yaum channel, said: “When we arrived and news came that Gori was being shelled, I saw my footage. I said: that’s not Gori! That’s Tskhinvali. Having crawled through the length and breadth of Tskhinvali, I don’t need much to tell from which point this or that footage was recorded. I can swear in front of any tribunal. I can point at this location on the map of the town, because I and the cameraman of the Rossiya channel videotaped that.”

Good Ol CNN…

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia, Moscow says: Saakashvili "better go!"


(MOSCOW) —Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ordered a halt to military action in Georgia Tuesday, saying it had punished Georgia and restored security for civilians and Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia.

In a nationally televised speech he ordered the military to defend itself and quash any aggressive action and armed resistance from Georgian forces.

Russia’s foreign minister said that Georgia’s president must leave office and Georgian troops should stay out of the breakaway South Ossetia region for good.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow won’t talk to President Mikhail Saakashvili and Saakashvili “better go.”

The Russian statements came as French President Nicolas Sarkozy was heading to Moscow to negotiate an EU-brokered truce for the fierce conflict over the breakaway region.

Medvedev Orders Russia to Stop!


Russia ‘ends Georgia operation’

Breaking News

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia, the Kremlin says.

He told officials he had taken the decision to end the operation after restoring security for civilians and peacekeepers in South Ossetia.

However, Russia has remained highly critical of Georgia’s leadership, and there were no signs of imminent talks.

Looks like French President Nicolas Sarkozy may have worked some magic…..

Russia: The Georgian War!


Hello,

Lets see what is happening in Georgia….
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1. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country currently chairs the EU, is to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow before travelling to Georgia for talks with its president, Mikhail Saakashvili.

2. Russian-backed Abkhazia say they have begun an operation against Georgian forces, which now appear under pressure on two fronts. Abkhazia says they are trying to push Georgian forces from a strategic gorge in the west of the breakaway province.

3. George W Bush said Russian actions in Abkhazia and the other breakaway province of South Ossetia were “unacceptable in the 21st Century” and that Moscow was guilty of a “dramatic and brutal escalation”. (What a statement from a killer of 100,000 + Iraq’s)

4. Georgia has been withdrawing its troops and armour towards Tbilisi after four days of bloody fighting in South Ossetia with Russian troops and rebel fighters. (But Georgia has still continued to fight in South Ossetia)

5. No one expected Georgia to be occupied that fast, not even Saakashvili, who, Georgian Kommersant sources say, has received an ultimatum from Moscow of three points in exchange for peace. The main point, in addition to capitulation and signing an agreement on the non use of force in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, is his resignation. (Good Idea!)

6. Over 30,000 refugees have crossed the border between South Ossetia and Russia in the last four days, seeking safety, but not all of them made it alive. Some South Ossetians risked their lives to bring the bodies of their loved ones to North Ossetia because they were unable to bury them back home.

7. We have watched media from the USA. The air waves are flying with how bad and evil Russia is. No one seems to care that Georgia started this by killing several thousand South Ossetians. Russia took about 20 hours to respond to the attack. Seems a little slow to me. Russia was not ready for this kind of attack on South Ossetia. (Contrary to Western news)

8. Ukraine, another American Democratic Puppet is starting to flap it jaws like I said they would in a previous article.

9. The French Foreign Minister and head of the European mediation mission, Bernard Kouchner, has visited one of the biggest refugee camps in North Ossetia-Alania – a region that’s part of Russia and borders South Ossetia.

10. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an end to military operations against Georgia, the Kremlin says.

Now we wait and see if Georgia plays games.

Kyle & Svet