US-Vizepräsident Biden sagt, dass sein Besuch das Ziel habe, eine "eindeutige, klare, einfache Botschaft" auszusenden, dass die USA bei Georgien stehe

22.07.2009 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Biden was speaking at a banquet held in his honor and hosted by President Saakashvili shortly after his arrival in Tbilisi on Wednesday evening.
Vice President Biden said the United States supported Georgia because “we first and foremost were inspired by you quest for independence.”
He said that the Rose Revolution was voice of “freedom loving people”. “What you did extended well beyond borders of Georgia,” he added.
Biden said the United States’ partnership with Georgia involved meeting security challenges, energy security and shared values of democracy.
“You are in the process of building those institutional attributes that the country needs to maintain democracy,” Biden said.
President Saakashvili, who awarded Biden with one of Georgia’s highest medals - St. Georgia’s Victory Order, told the Vice President that he was Georgia’s one of the strongest supporters.
“As you know we have managed to build here something that had never existed in this region – a modern, functioning state,” Saakashvili told Biden.
“We can be proud of having done that, but we know that there is still lot to be done,” Saakashvili said and added that for that purpose he laid out proposals for more democratic reforms while addressing the Parliament earlier this week.
He also said that the opposition’s ongoing street protest was part of democracy.
Saakashvili said that his presidential palace, where an official dinner was taking place, “is just 25 miles from occupied territories” – referring to Akhalgori in breakaway South Ossetia.
He told Biden that he was not saying it “to scare you.”
“I know it’s very difficult to scare you,” Saakashvili added and recalled Biden’s visit to Georgia on August 18, 2008 about a week after the end of military hostilities.
Saakashvili said that despite large-scale attack by Russia, “the Georgian people stand proudly” and “we will never ever surrender.”
“While we are at a gunpoint... we believe that democracy is now needed more than ever; let me be clear on this point: for us there is no tradeoff between democracy and security. Our security environment can only be addressed by investing in our democracy,” he said and added that it would be “a long and difficult road” and Georgia needed its friends’ assistance in this regard.
In the end of his speech Saakashvili told Biden, that he remembered when “you told me [after the August war]: ‘Misha lots of people are calling you these days, but later many will stop doing it, it’s inevitable, but I will never abandon you, I will always be there for your country’. You were always there for us and will always be.”
“Joe, you know in America,” Saakashvili continued, “as anywhere on the earth you can find lots of cynics and realpolitik followers... but like in no other country in the world, in America idealists ultimately run the show.”
The official dinner, which was also attended by the U.S. delegation members, Georgian government officials and senior lawmakers, was followed by a concert of Georgian performers, involving mainly Georgian folk songs and dances.
Stichworte: Georgien, USA, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #

US-Vizepräsident Biden in Moskau: Russland und USA sind über Georgien anderer Meinung

11.03.2011 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |

"Es ist noch viel Arbeit zu erledigen, um unsere Sicherheitszusammenarbeut und Nähe zu verbessern." "Wir meinen, dass ein größeres Prinzip auf dem Spiel steht. Wie in bereits München 2009 gesagt, ... 'unsere Sichtweise wird bleiben, dass souveräne Staaten das Recht haben, ihre eigenen Entscheidungen zu treffen und ihre eigenen Allianzen zu wählen.' Und weiterhin: 'Wir werden anerkennen, dass irgendein Staat eine Einflusszone habe.' Und nahezu ohne Rücksicht auf die Schwierigkeit - wir unterstützen keinen Staat, welcher mit Gewalt veranlassen will, die Führschaft einer gewählten - demokratisch gewählten Einzelperson zu ändern."
“Genuine disagreement” remains between Russia and the United States over Georgia, U.S. Vice President, Joe Biden, said while speaking at the State University in Moscow on March 10.
In his speech he spoke about the benefits Russia and the United States received in various areas two years after pressing “reset button”; he, however, also said that there “is still much work to be done to enhance our security cooperation and closeness”.
“We have a genuine disagreement not only with your [Russian] leadership but with the vast majority of the Russian people over Georgia,” Biden told the audience at the Moscow State University. “But there’s a larger principle at stake here in our view – and I want to be straightforward because if friends cannot be straightforward with friends, it really isn’t friendship based on mutual trust.”
“We think there’s a larger principle at stake here. As I said when I announced the reset at Munich [Security Conference in February, 2009] I said, ‘It will remain our view that sovereign states have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances.’ And further: ‘We will not recognize any state having a sphere of influence.’ And almost regardless of the difficulty, we don't support any state deciding through force changing the leadership of an elected – democratically elected individual,” Biden said.
He said the U.S. had been working closely with Russia and Georgia “to reduce the threat of further conflict.”
“As a result, Georgia recently restated its commitment non-use of force, and commercial flights have resumed between Moscow and Tbilisi. But we must do more to assist those displaced by the 2008 conflict and enable normal travel and commerce to occur,” the U.S. Vice President added.

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

Besuch von US-Vizepräsident Joe Biden in Georgien am 22. und 23.07.2009

Presseüberblick:
DW - Zeit - Focus - NZZ - Washington Post - LA Times

Redetexte von Joe Biden - persönliches über Joe Biden

7/23/2009
Remarks By The Vice President To The Georgian Parliament

7/23/2009
News Conference by the President, July 22, 2009

7/22/2009
Remarks by the Vice President at an official dinner hosted by President Saakashvili

Stichworte: Georgien, USA, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #

Resolution zu Georgien im US-Senat

11.12.2010 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |

'Resolution zur Okkupation' im US-Senat initiiert
Die demokratische Senatorin Jeanne Shaheen hat eine Resolution verfaßt, die Georgiens territoriale Integrität und die Anerkennung von Abchasien und Südossetien als von Russland besetzte Regionen unterstützt. Russland auch aufgerufen, das Waffenstillstandsabkommen von 2008 vollständig zu erfüllen.
Entwurf einer Resolution zu Georgien im US-Senat initiiert:
Draft of Resolution on Georgia Initiated in U.S. Senate
Draft - S.RES.698
A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to the territorial integrity of Georgia and the situation within Georgia's internationally recognized borders
Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by the international community and 36 United Nations Security Council resolutions;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act resulting from the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1975 states that parties ‘‘shall regard as inviolable all one another’s frontiers’’ and that ‘‘participating States will likewise refrain from making each other’s territory the object of military occupation’’;
Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Charter, signed on January 9, 2009, underscores that ‘‘support for each other’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation of our bilateral relations’’;
Whereas, in October 2010, at the meeting of the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, Secretary of State Clinton stated, ‘‘The United States will not waiver in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’’;
Whereas the White House released a fact sheet on July 24, 2010, calling for ‘‘Russia to end its occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’’ and for ‘‘a return of international observers to the two occupied regions of Georgia’’;
Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Tbilisi in July 2009 that the United States ‘‘will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states’’ and went on to ‘‘urge the world not to recognize [Abkhazia and South Ossetia] as independent states’’;
Whereas the August 2008 conflict between the Governments of Russia and Georgia resulted in civilian and military causalities, the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and large numbers of internally-displaced persons;
Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed to by the Governments of Russia and Georgia, provides that all Russian troops shall be withdrawn to pre-conflict positions;
Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement provides that free access shall be granted to organizations providing humanitarian assistance in regions affected by violence in August 2008;
Whereas the International Crisis Group concluded in its June 7, 2010, report on South Ossetia that ‘‘Moscow has not kept important ceasefire commitments and some 20,000 ethnic Georgians from the region remain forcibly displaced’’;
Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report 2010 that ‘‘Russia continued to exercise effective control over South Ossetia and. . . Abkhazia, preventing international observers’ access and vetoing international missions working there’’;
Whereas, in October 2010, Russian troops withdrew from the small Georgian village of Perevi;
Whereas the withdrawal of Russian troops from Perevi is a positive step, but it does not constitute compliance with the terms of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia ceasefire agreement;
Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European Parliament, Georgian President Saakashvili committed Georgia to not use force to restore control over the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
Whereas Secretary of State Clinton stated in Tbilisi on July 5, 2010, ‘‘We continue to call for Russia to abide by the August 2008 cease-fire commitment. . . including ending the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions.’’;
Whereas the Russian Federation vetoed the extension of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Georgia and the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, forcing the missions to withdraw from the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
Whereas Russian troops stationed in the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia continue to be present without a mandate from the United Nations or other multilateral organizations;
Whereas the Senate supports United States efforts to develop a productive relationship with the Russian Federation in areas of mutual interest, including non-proliferation and arms control, cooperation concerning the failure of the Government of Iran to meet its international obligations with regard to its nuclear programs, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, anti-piracy, economics and trade, and others; and
Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not compromise longstanding United States policy, principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and United States support for United States allies and partners worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate
(1) affirms that it is the policy of the United States to support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Georgia and the inviolability of its borders and to recognize the areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as regions of Georgia occupied by the Russian Federation;
(2) calls upon the Government of Russia to take steps to fulfill all the terms and conditions of the 2008 ceasefire agreements, including returning military forces to pre-war positions and ensuring access to international humanitarian aid to all those affected by the conflict;
(3) urges the Government of Russia and the de facto authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to allow for the full and dignified return of internally-displaced persons and international observer missions to the territories of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia;
(4) supports constructive engagement and confidence-building measures between the Government of Georgia and the de facto authorities in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; and
(5) affirms that the path to lasting stability in this region is through peaceful means and long-term diplomatic and political dialogue.

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

Georgia is on a path that the United States supports towards NATO membership

Philip J. Crowley - Assistant Secretary of State - Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC - July 23, 2009
... QUESTION: Another subject? Georgia; during Vice President Biden visit to Georgia, President Saakashvili asked again for American weapons. Is U.S. contemplating rearming Georgia?
MR. CROWLEY: Well, Georgia is on a path that the United States supports towards NATO membership. Clearly, a fundamental tenant of NATO membership is to have a military that meets NATO standards and would add to the capability of the alliance. So it is logical that the United States would have a military-to-military relationship with Georgia. Obviously, it becomes increasingly important, given the current situation in and around that country.
So I think that the Vice President outlined today not only the importance of our relationship with Georgia, our willingness to continue to help Georgia with its defensive requirements, and a commitment that we will continue to work closely with the government going forward.
QUESTION: And aren’t you concerned that this could affect your relations with Russia?
MR. CROWLEY: I think we have made clear to Russia that ultimately, decisions like this rest with the people of Georgia, and we will continue to have, I’m sure, conversations with Russia on these issues. ...
Stichworte: Georgien, USA, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #

Biden: USA werden Abchasien und Süd-Ossetien nicht anerkennen

07.02.2009 | Civil Georgia | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #

Resolution zur Okkupation im US-Senat verabschiedet

Resolution zur Okkupation im US-Senat verabschiedet - 30.07.2011, Civil Georgia
In der Resolution wird Georgiens territoriale Integrität unterstützt und Abchasien und Südosseten als "von Russland besetzte Regionen" anerkannt. ...

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http://www.civil.ge/files/files/2011/SenateResolution175.pdf

Calendar No. 113

112TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 175

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing violations of

the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and the importance

of a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict within Georgia’s internationally

recognized borders.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 10, 2011

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. KYL, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr.

CARDIN, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. CASEY, Mr. COCHRAN,

Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. KIRK, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. RISCH, Mr. LEVIN, Mr.

BARRASSO, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. MENENDEZ, and Mr. COONS) submitted the

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

JULY 27, 2011

Reported by Mr. KERRY, without amendment

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to ongoing

violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of

Georgia and the importance of a peaceful and just resolution

to the conflict within Georgia’s internationally recognized

borders.

Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has

been reaffirmed by the international community and 36

United Nations Security Council resolutions;

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•SRES 175 RS

Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Charter, signed

on January 9, 2009, underscores that ‘‘support for each

other’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and

inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation of our

bilateral relations’’;

Whereas, in October 2010, at the meeting of the United

States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, Secretary

of State Hillary Clinton stated, ‘‘The United

States will not waiver in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty

and territorial integrity.’’;

Whereas the White House released a fact sheet on July 24,

2010, calling for ‘‘Russia to end its occupation of the

Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’’ and

for ‘‘a return of international observers to the two occupied

regions of Georgia’’;

Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden stated in Tbilisi in

July 2009 that the United States ‘‘will not recognize

Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states’’;

Whereas, according to the Government of Georgia’s ‘‘State

Strategy on Occupied Territories,’’ the Government of

Georgia has committed itself to a policy of peaceful engagement,

the protection of economic and human rights,

freedom of movement, and the preservation of cultural

heritage, language, and identity for the people of

Abkhazia and South Ossetia;

Whereas the August 2008 conflict between the Governments

of Russia and Georgia resulted in civilian and military

causalities, the violation of the sovereignty and territorial

integrity of Georgia, and large numbers of internally displaced

persons;

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•SRES 175 RS

Whereas large numbers of persons remain displaced as a result

of the August 2008 conflict as well as the earlier

conflicts of the 1990s;

Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement, agreed to

by the Governments of Russia and Georgia provides that

all troops of the Russian Federation shall be withdrawn

to pre-conflict positions;

Whereas the August 12, 2008, ceasefire agreement provides

that free access shall be granted to organizations providing

humanitarian assistance in regions affected by violence

in August 2008;

Whereas the recognition by the Government of Russia of

Abkhazia and South Ossetia on August 26, 2008, was in

violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of

Georgia;

Whereas Human Rights Watch concluded in its World Report

2011 that ‘‘Russia continued to occupy Georgia’s breakaway

regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and

strengthened its military presence in the region by establishing

a military base and placing an advanced surfaceto-

air missile system in Abkhazia’’;

Whereas the parties have taken some constructive steps in recent

months, including the resumption of direct flights

between Russia and Georgia, Russian troop withdrawal

from the Georgian village of Perevi, and regular participation

in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism;

Whereas these positive steps neither adequately address the

humanitarian situation on the ground nor constitute full

compliance with the terms of the August 2008 ceasefire

agreement;

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•SRES 175 RS

Whereas, on November 23, 2010, before the European Parliament,

Georgian President Saakashvili declared that

‘‘Georgia will never use force to restore its territorial integrity

and sovereignty’’;

Whereas Secretary of State Clinton stated in Tbilisi on July

5, 2010, ‘‘We continue to call for Russia to abide by the

August 2008 cease-fire commitment . . . including ending

the occupation and withdrawing Russian troops from

South Ossetia and Abkhazia to their pre-conflict positions.’’;

Whereas the Russian Federation blocked the extension of the

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

(OSCE) Mission to Georgia and the United Nations Observer

Mission in Georgia, forcing the missions to withdraw

from South Ossetia and Abkhazia;

Whereas troops of the Russian Federation stationed in

Abkhazia and South Ossetia continue to be present without

the consent of the Government of Georgia or a mandate

from the United Nations or other multilateral organizations;

Whereas, at the April 15, 2011, meeting in Berlin between

the foreign ministers of Georgia and NATO, Secretary of

State Clinton stated, ‘‘U.S. support for Georgia’s sovereignty

and territorial integrity remains steadfast. . . .

We share Georgian concerns regarding recent Russian

activities that can negatively affect regional stability.’’;

Whereas, on April 25–26, 2011, Foreign Minister of Russia

Sergei Lavrov made a high-profile visit to Abkhazia and

South Ossetia, which was immediately criticized by the

Department of State as ‘‘inconsistent with the principle

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•SRES 175 RS

of territorial integrity and Georgia’s internationally recognized

borders’’;

Whereas the Senate supports United States efforts to develop

a productive relationship with the Russian Federation in

areas of mutual interest, including non-proliferation and

arms control, cooperation concerning the failure of the

Government of Iran to meet its international obligations

with regard to its nuclear programs, counter-terrorism,

Afghanistan, anti-piracy, and economics and trade; and

Whereas the Senate agrees that these efforts must not compromise

longstanding United States policy or United

States support for its allies and partners worldwide: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) affirms that it is the policy of the United

3 States to support the sovereignty, independence, and

4 territorial integrity of Georgia and the inviolability

5 of its borders, and to recognize Abkhazia and South

6 Ossetia as regions of Georgia occupied by the Rus7

sian Federation;

8 (2) calls upon the Government of Russia to

9 take steps to fulfill all the terms and conditions of

10 the 2008 ceasefire agreements between Georgia and

11 Russia, including returning military forces to pre12

war positions and ensuring access to international

13 humanitarian aid to all those affected by the con14

flict;

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•SRES 175 RS

1 (3) urges the Government of Russia and the au2

thorities in control in the regions of South Ossetia

3 and Abkhazia to allow for the full and dignified re4

turn of internally displaced persons and inter5

national missions to the territories of Abkhazia and

6 South Ossetia;

7 (4) supports peaceful, constructive engagement

8 and confidence-building measures between the Gov9

ernment of Georgia and the authorities in control in

10 South Ossetia and Abkhazia and encourages addi11

tional people-to-people contacts; and

12 (5) affirms that finding a peaceful resolution to

13 the conflict is a key priority for the United States

14 in the Caucasus region and that lasting regional sta15

bility can only be achieved through peaceful means

16 and long-term diplomatic and political dialogue be17

tween all parties.

with BILLS

Calendar No. 113

112TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 175

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to