Saakashvili calls on Georgian people for consolidation from Gori town

08.08.09 12:17

The fight goes on, we are fighting for peace and liberty, Mikheil Saakashvili said in the speech he delivered from the Gori Fortress on August 7 2009, a year later the Russian-Georgian war that took place in Tskhinvali Region.

Mikheil Saakashvili called on the world to assist his country in keeping peace and said Georgia is not alone and thanked to all the friend countries.

`We want to defeat the invaders but not by means of war, we want to defeat them by means of peace, developing our democratic institutions. So tonight, I call on the free world, to our friends: Help us to secure peace. Help us to prevent a new invasion. And then the world will be astonished at how fast and how deep we will develop,` Saakashvili said in his speech.

The president recalled the citizens, militants killed in consequence of the Russian aggression and their stories of the war.

Mikheil Saakashvili called on all the citizens of Georgia for consolidation. The president said any person in the country, despite his political, confessional or social distinctiveness, fights for Georgia`s independence. He said, he does not expect support to the government from everyone, but unity will lead the country to final victory.

`Tonight, as we are paying tribute to our beloved fellow citizens who died last summer, I want to make a call to every Georgian citizen: Let`s unite! Let`s unite for a free and independent Georgia,` he said.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Different events held in Gori town in protest against Russian aggression

08.08.09 12:21

Different events were held in Gori town to protest against the Kremlin policy on August 7 2009. Human chain was stretched from Gori up to Tskhinvali, people killed in the Russian-Georgian war were commemorated with a minute-silence, a memorial on which names of the heroes killed in the war are engraved was unveiled, an improvised Berlin Wall was also opened in the town. The main event of the day was opened with a national anthem in the evening. After that, Mikheil Saakashvili delivered a speech from the Gori fortress, in which he recalled the heroes killed in the war.

Along with the government members and representatives of the diplomatic corps, family members of the people killed in the Russian-Georgia war, were listening to the Georgian president`s speech in Gori town.

After the president`s speech, a symphony orchestra played a requiem and children tolled bells of peace again, with what the event was finished. Locals were also listening to the president`s speech. Mikheil Saakashvili talked to them later.

The main event of August 7 finished late night. After having met with the locals, Mikheil Saakashvili left Gori town.

-----------------------------------------------

Memorial to people killed in Russian-Georgian war unveiled in Poti town

08.08.09 12:16

Memorial to the people killed in the Russian-Georgian war has been unveiled in Poti town. The Memorial has been installed in a square in the center of the town. Family members of the killed soldiers and representatives of the local municipality have attended the ceremony. Metropolitan Grigol of Poti and Khobi has served funeral rites to commemorate the people killed in the war. A photo exhibition depicting the Russian aggression in Georgia has also opened in the exhibition hall of Poti town.

Twelve young men from Poti died in the August war, two of them were reservists, five of them were representatives of the Georgian naval forces and five were employees of the Poti port. Seventy people from Poti were wounded in teh war.

------------------------------------------------

Memorial to nurse killed in August war unveiled in Gori town

08.08.09 12:14

A memorial board to nurse Marine Gogiashvili, 25, who was killed in the August war, has been unveiled at the office of emergency services in Gori town. Georgian Healthcare Minister Sandro Kvitashvili has unveiled the memorial.

Colleagues have commemorated Marine Gogiashvili. The memorial board to her has been opened at the medical post of Gori. Sandro Kvitashvili unveiled the memorial right at the time and at the place, where on August 2008 Russian air fighters threw a bomb that killed Marine Gogiashvili.

79 people are working at the restored medical post of Gori town now. 6 emergency brigades serve the town during 24 hours.

As reported, another memorial to the people killed in the August war will be unveiled in Gori hospital in the nearest future.

----------------------------------------------

Georgian parliament holds extraordinary session

07.08.09 18:48

Five-cross flag is flying over Georgia that means that the fight goes on, Georgian speaker said at the extraordinary parliamentary session on Friday.

`The Kremlin considers Abkhazia and Ossetia as springboards for implementing its imperialistic thoughts, constructing its military bases and invading Georgia. For us, Georgians, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are homeland and not just territories`, the Chair of Georgian Parliament said. Davit Bakradze called on the Georgian politicians for consolidations.

MPs also made political statements at today`s session. Minority members Levan Vepkhvadze called on members of the Georgian political parties despite their different views not to separate from the government in fight against the enemy.

-------------------------------------------------------

Memorial boards to soldiers killed in August war unveiled

07.08.09 18:46

Memorial to the heroes killed in the war for Georgia`s territorial integrity was unveiled at Senaki military base in Samegrelo Region on Friday. Names of the soldiers, who died in the war with the Russian occupational troops, have been engraved on the memorial. Representatives of the general staff of Georgia and heads of the local regional administration arrived at the base as well. The militants commemorated the soldiers killed in the August war with a minute-silence. Georgian national anthem was also sung. Priest of the Senaki military base served funeral rites of the Georgian heroes.
Militants of the third infantry division and heads of Kutaisi city also commemorated the soldiers killed in the war with Russia. They decorated the memorial to the dead soldiers with flowers. The third infantry division was fighting in the august war, where thirteen soldiers died. A memorial board to eight of the thirteen soldiers was unveiled in Kutaisi today.

------------------------------------------------------

Human chain stretched from Gori to Tskhinvali

07.08.09 18:44

Citizens of Georgia formed human chain stretched from Gori up to Tskhinvali town. Along with the rally, population of Gori district commemorated the people killed in the August war with a minute-silence right at the place where cluster bombs were falling and a lot of people were dying a year ago.

The town is in the center of attention of international media. Foreign journalists intend to make a documentary film about Gori.

Human chain, a minute-silence rally and the improvised Berlin Wall have already arranged in Gori. Foundation of a memorial on which names of heroes killed in the war for Georgia`s territorial integrity will be engraved, will be laid in the town today. A symphony orchestra will play a requiem at the Gori fortress. Georgian president is also expected in the town.

--------------------------------------------------

Public prayer served to commemorate Georgian heroes

07.08.09 17:34

Public prayer has been served to commemorate Georgian heroes killed in the August war in all churches throughout Georgia. Catholicos Patriarch of all Georgia his Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II served the funeral rites at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi on Friday. Georgian president, members of the legislative as well as the executive government arrived at the cathedral.

`Today it is a mourning day, but it is a day of hope as well. We look to future with hope that the tension existing between will eased. I`d like, as a spiritual father of Georgians, Ossetians and Abkhazians, warn our spiritual children that if they stay without Georgia, time will come when Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Regions may exist but without Abkhazians and Ossetians. This will happen as a punishment sent by God, because the oldest Georgian territories have been seized.

`We respect Russia and the Russian people. We appreciate their culture, religion, but I want to tell them that we will never allow violation of Georgia`s territorial integrity. And we are unanimous in this. I hope, the Russian government will show wisdom and the conflicts will be resolved peacefully`, Ilia II said.

-------------------------------------------------

Russian aggression protested at administrative boundary of Abkhazia

07.08.09 17:22

A minute-silence rally was held at the administrative border of Abkhaz breakaway region of Georgia on Friday. Locals formed human chain from the center of Zugdidi town to the Enguri Bridge at the administrative border. In this way, they expressed their protest against the Russian occupational policy.

At the site where the Russian-occupied territory starts, about 3000 people assembled with Georgian national flags. At first, they commemorated the Georgian soldiers killed in the August war, after what the troupe of the Kutaisi Theatre sang the national anthem.

People living in Gali district of breakaway Abkhazia and the soldiers, who were fighting against the Russian occupants in the war, joined the human chain at the administrative boundary as well. Bells tolled at churches later calling on the Abkhaz people for consolidation.

The situation at the administrative boundary was stable, no excesses occurred.
Therefore, the Ganmukhuri Patriot Camp was opened on Friday. The camp was burnt down by the occupants when they broke into the territory of Samegrelo Region in August last year.

--------------------------------------------

Georgia falls silent to commemorate people killed in August war

07.08.09 15:19

Whole Georgia fell silent at 3 p.m. exactly on August 7. The country commemorated the people killed in the Russian aggression in August 2008 with a minute-silence. Movement of microbuses and taxis was halted during an hour in the capital of Georgia. Drivers of public transport and private taxis joined the rally as well. About 700 drivers commemorated the people killed in the war for Georgia`s territorial integrity on Rike Square in Tbilisi.

The Tbilisi Metropolitan halted working for a minute at 3 p.m. exactly. The staff stopped working in all the stations. There was complete silence in the whole subway for a minute.

The emergency service stopped working for a minute as well. The medics joined the silent rally as well. Representatives of the Emergency commemorated the people killed in the war with a minute-silence as well.

Fire fighters did not separate from the rally either. All the acting fire fighters went out in the street to participate in the silent rally at 3 p.m.

The Interior ministry also participated in the silent rally. Representatives of the ministry commemorated the people killed in the Russian aggression with a minute-silence. Traffic movement was halted for a minute on the road to the Tbilisi airport as well.

All employees of the Georgian Foreign Ministry stood out side the building at 3 p.m. exactly. Representatives of the ministry commemorated the heroes who died in the war with Russia. From the rally, they moved to St. Nino church where the public prayer for the killed heroes was held.

Doctors assembled in the yard of the St. Mikheil Hospital said they are always ready to fight for saving human lives, although they do not want the state of combat readiness in the country. The doctors thank to everyone who estimated their merits.
Employees of the city administration also came outside the Tbilisi Mayor`s office to take part in the overall silence for the Georgian soldiers.

Along with the Georgian government members, representatives of the president`s administration commemorated the Georgian soldiers and people killed in the August war with a minute-silence as well. They came out in the yard of the President`s Palace.

There was a minute of silence at the Vaziani military base as well. Soldiers of the fourth brigade of the Georgian Defence ministry commemorated their companions-in-arms. 161 militants of the Georgian Armed Forces died in the war, nine are missing.

The silence in the Georgian Republic was broken by the national anthem. After the minute-silence, the anthem was heard in all regions of the country. The anthem was simultaneously sang at ten different sites.

-----------------------------------------------

Unity bonfires lit throughout Georgia

07.08.09 13:30

A year later the August war, bonfires of unity were lit throughout Georgia last night. Along with Tbilisi, the fire was lit in the towns injured in consequence of the war actions at 12 a.m. on August 7. People assembled around the bonfires commemorated the heroes killed in the Russian-Georgian war again.

The Unity Bonfires were lit at Gori Fortress, at the so-called administrative boundary of Abkhazia, at Narikala fortress in Tbilisi, in towns of Telavi, Batumi, Mtskheta, Ambrolauri, Ozurgeti, Akhaltsikhe and Rustavi simultaneously last night.

Organizers of the rally, representatives of the August 7 movement said, `The purpose of lighting the bonfire to give the world sign that the danger of Georgia`s invasion by Russia still exists. The Georgia side supports restoring the country`s territorial integrity by peaceful way`.

Along with the Unity Bonfire, two air balloons devoted to the memory of the soldiers killed in the August war were also launched from the Gori fortress towards Tskhinvali last night.

----------------------------------------------------------

Schoolchildren display human flag in Gori town

07.08.09 12:53

450 schoolchildren have displayed a human flag in the town of Gori. Georgia is united and consolidated under one flag, - this was the symbolic message of the teenagers who displayed the flag at the Gori fortress. This place has also been chosen symbolically because the place where Russian bombs were falling a year ago, unity and consolidation of the nation was demonstrated today. The kids said they want peace.

Along with this, a numbers of events have been scheduled in Gori town for today - a human chain, a minute-silence and the Berlin wall that has been installed in the center of the town. A foundation will be laid to a monument on which names of the people who died in the war for Georgia`s territorial integrity will be engraved. The heroes will be commemorated with a minute-silence at 3 p.m. An exhibition of paintings of dead soldiers` children will also be organized. The improvised Berlin Wall with slogan Open Iron Wall has been installed in front of Stalin monument in the center of Gori.

Igoeti-Senaki sector of the Tbilisi-Senaki express autobahn will also be opened on Friday. A symphony orchestra concert will also be held in the town today.
---------------------------------------------------

Open Air occupation museum arranged in Tbilisi

07.08.09 12:15

Open air occupation museum has been arranged in the Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Georgia capital Tbilisi. About 100 banners and 4000 exhibits remind visitors details of the Russian occupation. Installation of the exhibits started at midnight, when the Rustaveli Avenue was closed.

The visitors of the open air museum will be able to see all the violent acts Russia has carried out towards Georgia since the Georgiyevski Treaty was signed by Georgia and the Russian Empire in the 18th century. The exposition installed outside the parliament has been created with exhibits depicting the April 9 tragedy referring to the events in Tbilisi on April 9, 1989, when an anti-Soviet demonstration was dispersed by the Soviet army, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Each banner depicts different details of Russia`s aggressive policy and invasion of Georgia.

The way from the Georgiyevski Treaty to the occupation comprises a whole kilometer, the main thoroughfare of Tbilisi and starts with the Russian checkpoint. The exhibition starts with the photos depicting the Georgiyevski document, which was considered a friendly treaty by Georgian King Erekle II in 1783. Along with this, exhibits demonstrating eleven historical segments with photo and video materials have been installed in the avenue. The open air gallery ends in the Tavisupleba Square with materials depicting the August war.

The purpose of the rally is to show that the Russian Empire has brought nothing positive to Georgia during the 226 years.

---------------------------------------------------------

Saakashvili decorates memorial to soldiers killed in August war with flowers

07.08.09 12:05

Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili commemorated the people killed in the August war with a minute-silence at Mukhatgverdi cemetery. The supreme Commander-in-Chief decorated the memorial to the heroes killed in the war for Georgia`s territorial integrity with flowers. Thirty three soldiers who died in the war with Russia are buried at Mukhatgverdi cemetery.

`Georgia`s history is the history of fighting for freedom and the August of last year is the part of this history. The people who sacrificed themselves to the fight for freedom and independence, are part of the heroes, who were fighting for this freedom during centuries`, Davit Sikharulidze, the Georgian Defence Minister said.

`Today we commemorate the heroes, who sacrificed themselves to the country`s security and defence. All their names give examples to all of us`, Irakli Alasania, the leader of the Our Georgia - free Democrats said.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Georgia marks anniversary of August war

07.08.09 11:13

On August 7, 2008, exactly one year ago, Russian air fighters were bombarding the Georgian territory. Today all Georgia will protest the Russian aggression again. At 3 p.m. the Georgian nation will commemorate the heroes who died in the war for the country`s territorial integrity with a minute-silence.

Human chain will be arranged in the vicinity of the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia. The Rustaveli Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Tbilisi will become an open-air occupation museum for one day. All orthodox churches will toll bells at 3 p.m. throughout Georgia.

------------------------------------------------

Georgia presents large-scale report on August war

06.08.09 18:26

Georgian government has prepared a report on the large-scale Russian aggression occurred in August 2889 and the reasons and results of the war. The report sums up all the events that took place before the aggression, during the war and in the post-war period. Audio and video materials, including top-secret documents are enclosed to the report. Georgian State Minister for Reintegration issues will present the secret materials to the society. He will hold presentation of the most large-scale report.

`Georgia has nothing to hide. In contrast with Russians who publish documents trumped up in bad Georgian, we publish the documents that we have sent to Russians, to the marionette regimes and which confirm that Georgia did great efforts to avoid the war and military aggression in August 2008`, Georgian Foreign minister said.

Representatives of the society, as well as the diplomatic corps and experts will attend the presentation. They think that Russia is an aggressor, which used instruments of the 19th century, invaded a sovereign country in the 21st century and has still occupied its territories.

Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #

Aufruf an die internationale Politik anlässlich des Jahrestages

der russischen Invasion in Georgien am 08.08.2008

durch die georgische Diasporagemeinschaft in Deutschland

Am 08.08.2008 stießen russische Streitkräfte auf georgisches Territorium vor und – wie später bekannt wurde – waren in den Tagen zuvor bereits reguläre Militärs in Südossetien zu Übungen und Erkundungen eingeschleust worden, z. B. Interview Generalmajor Borisow.

Die internationale Politik erreichte im August 2008 Verhandlungsergebnisse zwischen Georgien und Russland in Form des Sechs-Punkte-Planes mit späteren Zusatzvereinbarungen. Statt der zugesagten Wiederherstellung der Situation vor den Kampfhandlungen in Südossetien und Abchasien erkannte Russland diese als selbstständige Staaten an, schloss militärische Verträge ab und baute dort neue Truppenstützpunkte und Militärflughäfen – entgegen internationaler Verträge und den Prinzipien des Völkerrechts. Weiterhin verhinderte Russland im Alleingang die Fortsetzung der UN-Mission in Georgien (UNOMIG) und der OSZE-Beobachtermission. So wird in den okkupierten georgischen Regionen Abchasien und Südossetien die georgische Bevölkerung weiterhin unbehelligt unterdrückt und vertrieben.

Deshalb rufen wir die internationale Politik und sie persönlich auf,

gegenüber Russland diplomatischen und politischen Druck auszuüben, damit

1. die Anerkennung von Südossetien und Abchasien sofort aufgehoben wird,

2. der europäischen Beobachtermission EUMM dort Zugang gewährt wird,

3. die OSZE- und UN-Mission in Georgien wieder aufgenommen werden kann,

4. die territoriale Integrität Georgiens auch durch Russland respektiert wird,

5. der Sechs-Punkte-Plan vom August 2008 vollständig von Russland eingehalten wird,

6. Premierminister Putin seine Zusagen im Interview vom 30.08.2008 einhält.

Sechs-Punkte-Plan als Waffenstillstandsabkommen, vermittelt durch den französischen Präsidenten Sarkozy zwischen Georgien und Russland, am 16.08. auch von Russland unterzeichnet:

1. Verzicht auf Gewaltanwendungen

2. Endgültige Einstellung aller Kampfhandlungen

3. Gewährleistung eines ungehinderten Zugangs zu humanitären Hilfsgütern

4. Rückkehr der georgischen Streitkräfte auf ihre ursprüngliche Position

5. Rückzug der russischen Streitkräfte auf jene Linien, hinter denen sie sich vor Beginn der Kampfhandlungen befunden haben. Die russischen Friedenstruppen sollen zusätzliche Sicherheitsmaßnahmen ergreifen, bis internationale Mechanismen vereinbart sind.

6. Aufnahme internationaler Gespräche über Modalitäten für die Sicherheit und Stabilität in Südossetien und Abchasien

Quelle: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Laenderinformationen/Georgien/080815-Ratsschlussfolgerung.pdf

Interviewauszug: Im Gespräch mit dem Journalisten Thomas Roth sagte Russlands Premierminister Wladimir Putin in einer ARD-Sondersendung am 30.08.2008 unter anderem:

Roth: Wo sehen Sie die Aufgabe von Deutschland in dieser Krise?

Putin: Wir haben zu Deutschland sehr gute Beziehungen, vertrauensvolle Beziehungen, sowohl politische als auch ökonomische. Als wir mit Herrn Sarkozy gesprochen haben, bei seinem Besuch hier, haben wir gesagt, dass wir keinerlei Territorien in Georgien wollen. Wir werden uns in die Sicherheitszone zurückziehen, die in den früheren internationalen Abkommen vereinbart wurde. Aber da werden wir auch nicht ewig bleiben. Wir betrachten das als georgisches Territorium. Unsere Absicht besteht nur darin, die Sicherheit zu gewährleisten und es nicht so zu machen, dass da Truppen und Kriegsgerät heimlich geballt werden. Und zu verhindern, dass da die Möglichkeit eines neuen Konfliktes entsteht. Dann begrüßen wir die Teilnahme von Beobachtern der EU, der OSZE und natürlich auch Deutschlands. Wenn die Prinzipien der Zusammenarbeit geklärt sind.

Quelle: http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/putin172.html

weitere Quellen:

Interview von Generalmajor Borisow in “Radio Echo Moskau”: http://www.echo.msk.ru/programs/voensovet/596473-echo/

Report on human rights issues following the August 2008 armed conflict, by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe - 8 to 12 February 2009

Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Krieg-2008, Appell, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #

Nachrichten aus und über Georgien

Der Krieg in Georgien - Ursachen des Konflikts und Folgen für das politische Weltklima

Georgien erinnert an des Jahrestag des Augustkrieges - Georgia marks anniversary of August war