On August 8, at the United Nations Security Council Stakeout, on the occasion of 11th anniversary of the Russian-Georgian war, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland, UK, Estonia and U.S. jointly expressed their support for Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on the Russian Federation to fully implement its obligations under 2008 agreements.
“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 neighbors and for the rules-based international order,” read Belgium’s Karen Van Vlierberge on behalf of the seven nations at the UNSC stakeout.
In the statement the representatives said they are extremely concerned “about the intensification of the so-called borderisation process.” “These acts prolong the conflict, while destabilizing Georgia and the region as a whole,” the statement noted.
The statement called on the Russian Federation to implement its obligations under 2008 agreements and to establish international security mechanism. “Today we call again on the Russian Federation to fully implement its obligations under the Agreements of 12 August and 8 September 2008. The Six Point Agreement of 12 August includes commitments to ensure that armed forces withdraw to positions held before hostilities began, and to establish an international security mechanism,” the statement said.
At the joint press stake-out Belgian, German, French, the UK, Estonian and the U.S. representatives urged Russia to halt human rights violations and 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.”
They further called on “the authorities exercising effective control over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to facilitate access to these regions for the relevant humanitarian and human rights actors.”
The seven countries said they “regret the lack of commitment and progress achieved” in the format of Geneva International Discussions, “despite the initial promise of progress towards reconciliation” and “encourage all parties to redouble their efforts within the Geneva International Discussions.”
The Georgian Permanent Representative to the UN, Kaha Imnadze expressed his gratitude “to partner countries at UN Security Council supporting Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the EU6 and the U.S. for joint statement on 11th anniversary of Russian-Georgian war”.
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