Georgia at UN Security Council Open Debate

Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze delivers statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate, February 21, 2017. Photo: UN Mission of Georgia

The February 21 UN Security Council Open Debate on Conflicts in Europe, focused primarily on the situation in Ukraine, but touched upon other European conflicts as well, including that of Georgia.

Speaking on Georgia, UN Secretary General António Guterres, who was the first to deliver his debate briefing, said that “the crises” in Georgia and Ukraine “show that Europe remains at risk from new outbreaks of conflicts.”

“The United Nations fully supports the Geneva International Discussions,” he stated and urged its participants “to demonstrate the political will to find creative solutions for the benefit of all.”

“Some progress has recently been made, including on humanitarian issues, but much more should be done on key peace and security issues,” he also said and added that agreement on the non-use of force, freedom of movement and on internally displaced people “is an urgent need.”

Georgia also featured in the briefing of OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, who noted that the organization has not managed to restore its presence in Georgia since 2008.

He, however, underlined that the OSCE’s “strong relations” with the UN provides “a solid basis” for further development of their joint activities in Georgia.

“We work closely together with the UN and with the EU as co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, and as co-facilitator of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meetings in Ergneti,” Zannier explained.

The OSCE also contributes to confidence-building in the region through targeted initiatives on the ground, according to the Secretary General.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, the Security Council’s current president, said in his statement that “the Russian aggression against” Georgia in 2008 became “a litmus test for European security.”

“It was a warning sign that was not heeded,” he said and added that “the aggressor, being just slapped on the hand by the international community, took this as a green light.”

“Had the lessons from the 1938 Munich agreement not been learned? Today it is obvious — not well enough. Appeasement of aggressors and lack of consequences merely encourage more aggression,” he stated.

The joint statement of Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway), delivered by Ambassador Geir Pedersen of Norway, said that Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity was “severely compromised” and called “for access for international human rights mechanisms in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”

“In many conflicts, multilateral organizations are hindered from fulfilling their role. In Abkhazia, the UNOMIG mission was terminated and other institutions are not allowed meaningful access. The Geneva international discussions must continue,” it added.

Several other countries spoke in favor of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity at the debate, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Liechtenstein, Italy, Turkey, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, New Zealand and Bulgaria.

“With its ongoing creeping annexation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia and so called referendums, elections or even changing the names of these occupied regions, Russia once again violates the bedrock principles of the international order,” Lithuanian Foreign Linas Linkevičius said at the debate.

“Georgia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders must be affirmed and respected,” U.S.’s Permanent Representative Nikki Haley noted.

Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, who delivered a statement on behalf of Georgia, criticized the Russian Federation for its “aggression” against Georgia.

“It is particularly alarming when security architecture is deliberately undermined by the permanent member of the Security Council, who precisely is to stand guard over international principles,” Janelidze noted.

Despite Georgia’s “engagement, confidence building and reconciliation,” Janelidze stated, the Russian Federation continues the policy of “factual annexation” of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia.

The Foreign Minister pointed out the “so called referendum in Tskhinvali region” to rename the region into “the Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania,” similar to one of the federal subjects of the Russian Federation, is “another attestation” of this policy. He also added that the decision of “the occupation regime” in Abkhazia to close down the two crossing points, “further impedes free movement of the local population.”

Janelidze stated that Georgia “stands ready” to settle the conflict with the Russian Federation “by exclusively peaceful means, in accordance with relevant international agreements and with full respect for the fundamental principles of international law.”

“The withdrawal of Russia’s occupation forces from Georgia would be the most important stage toward a comprehensive settlement of the Russo-Georgian conflict,” he explained.

Janelidze also stated that despite the international organizations’ engagement in the Geneva International Discussions, “more needs to be done to deliver on tangible results, which first and foremost requires political will and commitment from all.”

“It requires more stewardship on behalf of the co-chairs and the Secretary General in guiding and assessing the process based on the principles and norms of international law. We should all support the Secretary-General in assuming stronger leadership role,” Janelidze added.

In his statement, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative Petr Iliichev said that "the conflict was over,” when “the failure of Mikheil Saakashvili’s (former President of Georgia) military adventure led to the establishment of two independent states – Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”

“Therefore, now it is necessary to talk not about the conflict settlement, but on the normalization of relations between Georgia and the two new republics,” Iliichev stated and added that “this topic is actively discussed” at the Geneva International Discussions.

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