Vol. 8 Issue 7 - Public International Law & Policy Group
Vol. 8 Issue 7 - Public International Law & Policy Group Vol. 8 Issue 7 - Public International Law & Policy Group
Georgia Russia remains 'dangerous enemy' of Georgia Agence France Presse, 2/12/09 Georgia continues to be confronted by a "great and dangerous enemy" six months after its war with Russia over the rebel South Ossetia region, President Mikheil Saakashvili said Thursday. In a state of the nation address to parliament, Saakashvili warned that Russia, which sent troops and tanks into Georgia last August, remained a threat to his ex-Soviet republic. "A great and dangerous enemy confronts Georgia's sovereignty," Saakashvili said. "We must have no illusions. This is an enemy whose most important and well-known goal is... erasing Georgia from the world map," he said. The conflict dealt a heavy blow to Georgia's economy and most of Saakashvili's address focused on government efforts to tackle problems in the economy, which has also suffered from the global financial crisis. In the face of growing opposition criticism, he called for political stability in order to save the economy. "All of our efforts must be directed not towards internal political strife, but towards overcoming the economic crisis. Today we have one foremost priority: the improvement of the economy and increasing employment," Saakashvili said. Russian forces poured into Georgia in early August to repel a Georgian military attempt to retake South Ossetia, which had received extensive backing from Moscow for years. Under a European Union-brokered ceasefire agreement, Russian forces later withdrew to within South Ossetia and another rebel region, Abkhazia, which Moscow recognized as independent states. Critics, including some former allies, have accused Saakashvili of mishandling the war and called for early elections. UN extends Georgia cease-fire observer mission John Heilprin, Associated Press, 2/13/09 The U.N. Security Council agreed Friday to a four-month extension of the peacekeeping mission monitoring a cease-fire between Georgia and the separatist Abkhazia region. The council's 15-0 vote gives the U.N. until mid-June to assess whether to continue involving its 400-strong mission in the wake of the Georgia-Russian war.
The five-day war and Russia's subsequent recognition of the breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations further strained Moscow's relations with the West. Major powers on the council agreed with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's assessment that last summer's conflict and Russia's recognition of both breakaway areas changed the context in which the U.N. has operated for the last 14 years. "We want to find a more durable arrangement that reflects the situation on the ground," British Ambassador John Sawers told reporters after the vote. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the council had approved a "very important resolution because it does not only extend the mandate for the mission but also sends a number of very important signals." For the first time, Churkin said, the terms of the European Union cease-fire brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been "expressly welcomed" and accepted by the international community. The Black Sea province of Abkhazia has been independently run since 1993, when two years of fighting with Georgian troops ended with a U.N.-monitored cease-fire. The recent war began last Aug. 7 with a Georgian offensive to regain control of South Ossetia. Neighboring Russia responded by sending in troops to Georgia, a former Soviet republic, and quickly routed the Georgian military. Ban's staff had reported to the council that Russia's military had affected the situation in the area of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and beyond, with thousands of troops and hundreds of armored vehicles taking part in its operation. Under an EU-sponsored cease-fire deal, EU monitors were deployed to Georgia and Russian forces were to leave Georgian territory. But Russia has been keeping thousands of troops in South Ossetia and in Abkhazia, a presence that U.S., NATO and the EU say violates its obligation under the cease-fire. Ban has said that there is "little clarity" about the future status of the areas where the U.N. observer mission, known as UNOMIG, operated. Russians, Georgians resume security talks Agence France Presse, 2/17/09 Russia and Georgia resumed talks in Geneva Tuesday on security arrangements in the wake of their conflict last year, the United Nations said, two months after they failed to wrap up an agreement.
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The five-day war and Russia's subsequent recognition of the breakaway republics of South<br />
Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations further strained Moscow's relations with the<br />
West.<br />
Major powers on the council agreed with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's assessment that<br />
last summer's conflict and Russia's recognition of both breakaway areas changed the context<br />
in which the U.N. has operated for the last 14 years.<br />
"We want to find a more durable arrangement that reflects the situation on the ground,"<br />
British Ambassador John Sawers told reporters after the vote.<br />
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the council had approved a "very important<br />
resolution because it does not only extend the mandate for the mission but also sends a<br />
number of very important signals."<br />
For the first time, Churkin said, the terms of the European Union cease-fire brokered by<br />
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been "expressly welcomed" and accepted by the<br />
international community.<br />
The Black Sea province of Abkhazia has been independently run since 1993, when two years<br />
of fighting with Georgian troops ended with a U.N.-monitored cease-fire.<br />
The recent war began last Aug. 7 with a Georgian offensive to regain control of South<br />
Ossetia. Neighboring Russia responded by sending in troops to Georgia, a former Soviet<br />
republic, and quickly routed the Georgian military.<br />
Ban's staff had reported to the council that Russia's military had affected the situation in the<br />
area of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict and beyond, with thousands of troops and hundreds of<br />
armored vehicles taking part in its operation.<br />
Under an EU-sponsored cease-fire deal, EU monitors were deployed to Georgia and Russian<br />
forces were to leave Georgian territory. But Russia has been keeping thousands of troops in<br />
South Ossetia and in Abkhazia, a presence that U.S., NATO and the EU say violates its<br />
obligation under the cease-fire.<br />
Ban has said that there is "little clarity" about the future status of the areas where the U.N.<br />
observer mission, known as UNOMIG, operated.<br />
Russians, Georgians resume security talks<br />
Agence France Presse, 2/17/09<br />
Russia and Georgia resumed talks in Geneva Tuesday on security arrangements in the wake<br />
of their conflict last year, the United Nations said, two months after they failed to wrap up an<br />
agreement.
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