01.04.2009 | Tagesspiegel | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Europa hofft auf einen Neuanfang zwischen Washington und Moskau – doch die Probleme bleiben. Kanzlerin Angela Merkel geht derweil auf Russland zu.
Mit einem Knopfdruck wollte Hillary Clinton den Neuanfang im Verhältnis zu Russland einleiten: Als die US-Außenministerin ihren russischen Kollegen Sergej Lawrow kürzlich zum ersten Mal traf, hatte sie einen roten Knopf aus Plastik mit der Aufschrift „Reset“ dabei, den beide dann gemeinsam drückten. Der einzige Schönheitsfehler der Inszenierung: Leider stand auf dem Knopf auf Russisch nicht „Reset“, sondern „Überlastung“ - ein Zeichen dafür, dass es zum gegenseitigen Verständnis noch ein weiter Weg ist.
...
Russlandexperten warnen nun davor, das Treffen von Obama und Medwedew überzubewerten: „Die strukturellen Probleme sind nach wie vor da“, betont Hans-Henning Schröder, Forschungsgruppenleiter bei der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik. Jetzt gebe es aber die Chance, die Probleme im Gespräch zu lösen. Schließlich beharrt die neue US-Regierung nicht unbedingt auf der Raketenabwehr und forciert auch die Einbindung der Ukraine und Georgiens in die Nato nicht mehr. „Die USA haben einen großen Schritt auf Russland zu gemacht“, sagt Schröder. „Der Rest muss verhandelt werden.“
...
Der Krieg in Georgien und der Gasstreit zwischen Moskau und Kiew hatten das Verhältnis stark belastet. Merkel gab sich am Dienstag betont pragmatisch: Die deutsch-russischen Beziehungen seien „bei allen Problemen darauf gerichtet, dass wir diese Probleme lösen“.
Einer der Streitpunkte kam umgehend zur Sprache: Moskau ist verstimmt darüber, dass sich die EU mit der Ukraine auf eine Modernisierung des ukrainischen Gaspipelinenetzes verständigt hat. Es sei „unmöglich“, dass Russland nicht beteiligt worden sei, kritisierte Medwedew. Der Ukraine drohte er gar mit finanziellen Konsequenzen. Die Kanzlerin bot ihm nun an, mit der EU-Kommission zu reden, damit Russland einbezogen werden kann. Zugleich erinnerte sie aber daran, dass die Ukraine ein souveräner Staat sei. Moskau sieht das Land als Teil seiner Einflusssphäre; der russische Konzern Gasprom strebt die Kontrolle über das ukrainische Pipelinenetz an.
... Besuch in Berlin: Medwedew für eine neue Sicherheitsarchitektur in Europa – ein Vorschlag, der als Gegenkonzept zu Nato und OSZE verstanden wurde und deshalb kaum Chancen auf Zustimmung hat. Die Kanzlerin schlug Russland am Dienstag einen „ständigen Dialog“ mit der EU im Rahmen der europäischen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik vor. Dies könne den Nato-Russland-Rat ergänzen. Merkel kündigte an, auch dies mit den Partnern in Europa zu besprechen.
Stichworte: Georgien, USA, Russland, Obama, Sprache: deutsch, Archiv: #
Posts für Suchanfrage Russland werden nach Relevanz sortiert angezeigt. Nach Datum sortieren Alle Posts anzeigen
Posts für Suchanfrage Russland werden nach Relevanz sortiert angezeigt. Nach Datum sortieren Alle Posts anzeigen
Aufruf an die internationale Politik anlässlich des Jahrestages der russischen Invasion in Georgien am 08.08.2008
08.08.2009 | Georgien-Nachrichten.com | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
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: #
Treffen Sarkozy/Medwedew in Paris über MISTRAL-Waffengeschäft
02.03.2010 - 03.03.2010
Eine Männerfreundschaft? Frankreichs Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy und Russlands Staatsoberhaupt Dmitri Medwedew - 03.03.2010, dradio
Mit dem Satz "Ich weiß, wie man Russland zivilisiert" wird der französische Präsident auch in deutschen Zeitungen zitiert. ... Er spielt den Modernisierer, zeigt im Rollenspiel mit Putin das weiche Gesicht Moskaus, der andere mimt den Verbrüderer - oder zumindest den Freund: "Je le recois comme un ami..."
Keine Einigung über Kriegsschiff-Deal mit Moskau - 02.03.2010, Focus
Über den Verkauf von französischen Kriegsschiffen an Russland wird weiter nur verhandelt. ... am Montagabend nach einem Treffen Sarkozy/Medwedew keine Einigung über das geplante Geschäft verkündbar ... USA fürchten Technologietransfer zum Schaden der NATO-Interessen ... Beteiligung von GDF Suez an der Gaspipeline Nord Stream durch die Ostsee ... bald Russen ohne Visa nach Frankreich ... Ausstellung mit russischer Sakralkunst im Louvre-Museum eröffnt ... in Moskau gerade Pablo-Picasso-Schau im Puschkin-Museum eröffnet.
Sarkozy forciert seine neue Wunsch-Entente mit Russland - 02.03.2010, Welt
Für die darbende französische Werftindustrie wäre der russische Auftrag ein Segen. Es wäre allerdings das erste Mal, dass ein Nato-Mitgliedsland Russland ein Kriegsschiff liefert. ... aber auch Skepsis: Die Zahl der russischen Spione in Frankreich sei seit 1985 nicht mehr so hoch gewesen wie zurzeit, warnt der französische Geheimdienst DCRI.
Sarkozy verkauft Russen Hubschrauber-Träger - 02.03.2010, derStandard
Frankreich will Russland heikle Militärtechnologie verkaufen und brüskiert Partner ... und weitere Waffengeschäfte sind im Gespräch ... leichte Panzer ... Geheimverhandlungen über Raketenlieferungen ...
Frankreich blickt wieder einmal nach Osten - 02.03.2010, NZZ
... Mit einer offenen Haltung gegenüber Russland strebt Sarkozy nun darüber hinaus eine Schlüsselrolle in der Gestaltung eines neuen Verhältnisses zu Moskau an. ...
Critics say proposed sale of French Mistral ship to Russia will harm region - 03.02.2010, washingtonpost.com
When the French navy's 23,700-ton Mistral-class amphibious assault ship dropped anchor in St. Petersburg's frigid harbor Nov. 23, it was doing more than paying a friendly visit to the Russians.
Stichworte: Georgien, Russland, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
Eine Männerfreundschaft? Frankreichs Präsident Nicolas Sarkozy und Russlands Staatsoberhaupt Dmitri Medwedew - 03.03.2010, dradio
Mit dem Satz "Ich weiß, wie man Russland zivilisiert" wird der französische Präsident auch in deutschen Zeitungen zitiert. ... Er spielt den Modernisierer, zeigt im Rollenspiel mit Putin das weiche Gesicht Moskaus, der andere mimt den Verbrüderer - oder zumindest den Freund: "Je le recois comme un ami..."
Keine Einigung über Kriegsschiff-Deal mit Moskau - 02.03.2010, Focus
Über den Verkauf von französischen Kriegsschiffen an Russland wird weiter nur verhandelt. ... am Montagabend nach einem Treffen Sarkozy/Medwedew keine Einigung über das geplante Geschäft verkündbar ... USA fürchten Technologietransfer zum Schaden der NATO-Interessen ... Beteiligung von GDF Suez an der Gaspipeline Nord Stream durch die Ostsee ... bald Russen ohne Visa nach Frankreich ... Ausstellung mit russischer Sakralkunst im Louvre-Museum eröffnt ... in Moskau gerade Pablo-Picasso-Schau im Puschkin-Museum eröffnet.
Sarkozy forciert seine neue Wunsch-Entente mit Russland - 02.03.2010, Welt
Für die darbende französische Werftindustrie wäre der russische Auftrag ein Segen. Es wäre allerdings das erste Mal, dass ein Nato-Mitgliedsland Russland ein Kriegsschiff liefert. ... aber auch Skepsis: Die Zahl der russischen Spione in Frankreich sei seit 1985 nicht mehr so hoch gewesen wie zurzeit, warnt der französische Geheimdienst DCRI.
Sarkozy verkauft Russen Hubschrauber-Träger - 02.03.2010, derStandard
Frankreich will Russland heikle Militärtechnologie verkaufen und brüskiert Partner ... und weitere Waffengeschäfte sind im Gespräch ... leichte Panzer ... Geheimverhandlungen über Raketenlieferungen ...
Frankreich blickt wieder einmal nach Osten - 02.03.2010, NZZ
... Mit einer offenen Haltung gegenüber Russland strebt Sarkozy nun darüber hinaus eine Schlüsselrolle in der Gestaltung eines neuen Verhältnisses zu Moskau an. ...
Critics say proposed sale of French Mistral ship to Russia will harm region - 03.02.2010, washingtonpost.com
When the French navy's 23,700-ton Mistral-class amphibious assault ship dropped anchor in St. Petersburg's frigid harbor Nov. 23, it was doing more than paying a friendly visit to the Russians.
Stichworte: Georgien, Russland, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
Staatsminister Georgiens Temur Jakobashvili: Wir dürfen uns von Russland nicht provozieren lassen
16.01.2009 | Civil Georgia | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Georgiens Staatsminister Temur Jakobashvili beschuldigt Russland in Staatsterorismus und sagt dass Russland versucht Georgien zum Antwort zum zwingen, damit es weiter zum Militarische Konflikt eskaliert. Er sagt dass ermordung eines Georgiesche Polizisten an die Administrative Grenze Süd Ossetiens war ein klares Fall von Stats terorismus.
Er sagt weiter dass Russland hat diese teritorien Okupiert (süd ossetien , Abchasien), die Kontrolieren diese gebiete und sind verantwortlich fur Russische militärs sowohl auch für süd Ossetische paramilitarische Bandformirungen.
minister sagte: Russiche absichte sind klar Georgien in einem Militarische Aktion hineinzuzihen. Wir erwarten noch mehr Provokationen, aber wir werden uns nicht Provozieren lassen.
Wie er meinte konflikt kann nur gelöst werden ,nachdem russische Truppen diese Teritorien weggeräumt haben.
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
Georgiens Staatsminister Temur Jakobashvili beschuldigt Russland in Staatsterorismus und sagt dass Russland versucht Georgien zum Antwort zum zwingen, damit es weiter zum Militarische Konflikt eskaliert. Er sagt dass ermordung eines Georgiesche Polizisten an die Administrative Grenze Süd Ossetiens war ein klares Fall von Stats terorismus.
Er sagt weiter dass Russland hat diese teritorien Okupiert (süd ossetien , Abchasien), die Kontrolieren diese gebiete und sind verantwortlich fur Russische militärs sowohl auch für süd Ossetische paramilitarische Bandformirungen.
minister sagte: Russiche absichte sind klar Georgien in einem Militarische Aktion hineinzuzihen. Wir erwarten noch mehr Provokationen, aber wir werden uns nicht Provozieren lassen.
Wie er meinte konflikt kann nur gelöst werden ,nachdem russische Truppen diese Teritorien weggeräumt haben.
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
WTO-ABKOMMEN MIT RUSSLAND - WTO-DEAL WITH RUSSIA
10.11.2011 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Georgien begrüßt 'erfolgreiches' WTO-Abkommen mit Russland - 10.10.2011, Civil Georgia
Georgien begrüßt 'erfolgreiches' WTO-Abkommen mit Russland - 10.10.2011, Civil Georgia
WTO deal with Russia is "very successful" for Georgia because "for the first time it allows to carry out international oversight on movement of cargo between Russia and Georgia's occupied territories," Nino Kalandadze, the Georgian deputy foreign minister, said on November 9.
Georgia said earlier on November 9 that it had signed with Moscow an agreement in the Swiss-mediated talks, thus finalizing bilateral WTO negotiations.
Kalandadze said that Georgia will soon make the signed documents publicly available.
She said that apart of border crossing points located on the Abkhaz and South Ossetian sections of the Georgian-Russian border, Zemo Larsi-Kazbegi border crossing point outside the breakaway regions would also fall under the international monitoring, which is planned to be carried out by a private company hired by Switzerland. With this, Kalandadze said, “Russia has actually recognized a uniform trade regime with Georgia, which we also welcome.”
“We hope that in the future Russia will also take such pragmatic stance in respect of those issues, which remain problematic between Russia and Georgia," she said.
She also expressed Georgia's appreciation towards the Swiss mediation efforts. Russia and Georgia launched Swiss-mediated WTO talks in March, 2011.
Tbilisi also welcomed Swiss efforts in the process of negotiations and stressed the importance of the decision, according to which a private company, which will carry out monitoring of trade between Russia and Georgia “will be accountable to the Swiss government and not to the sides.”
Georgien und Russland unterzeichnen WTO-Abkommen - 09.10.2011, Civil Georgia
Russia and Georgia signed on November 9 a bilateral agreement, completing WTO talks, Georgian negotiator, Sergi Kapanadze, said.
“We are very glad that after hesitation, Russia accepted the Swiss proposal; that is very important for us, because this is the first time when an international monitoring will be carried out on movement of cargo between Russia and Georgia, which also involves [cargo going in and from] Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region,” Kapanadze told Georgian TV station, Rustavi 2, via phone from Geneva on November 9.
The package of documents includes bilateral agreement between the Russian and Georgian governments on customs administration and trade monitoring, he said. The package also includes documents related to the mandate of third, neutral party, Switzerland, which will hire a private company in charge of monitoring of trade. Kapanadze also said that the sides have also exchanged notes on terms of operation of a company, which will be monitoring the trade; these terms, he said, include provisions guaranteeing the company’s neutral operations.
Georgian negotiator in the Swiss-mediated WTO talks with Moscow, Sergi Kapanadze, said on November 4, that an agreement had been reached with Russia and only technical issues are remaining, which should be settled in next five days.
“We have an agreement with Russia,” Sergi Kapanadze, the Georgian deputy foreign minister, said after talks in Geneva. “We are glad that they [the Russian side] finally were able to accept the final Swiss proposal. Initialing of the agreement will happen tomorrow in Geneva.”
He said that the text of the agreement “is the same”, which Georgia had accepted last week.
“We will have technical work remaining next week, but hopefully there will be no complications as we have agreement over the text now,” Kapanadze said.
He also said that next week the Swiss mediators would provide the text of the mandate that it would confer to a neutral private company.
According to the deal observers from a private company will be stationed at the both ends of so called "trade corridors", but not inside of these corridors, meaning that they will not be stationed inside the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian officials said last week, that trade corridors, which will be defined by their geographic coordinates not by names, lie through breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The monitoring will also involve Zemo Larsi-Kazbegi border crossing point, which is on the undisputed section of the Georgian-Russian border, outside the breakaway regions.
“We will also have to agree to the text of the contract that Georgia and Russia will sign with the monitors,” Sergi Kapanadze said.
He said that the agreement should be signed before November 10, when the formal meeting of the WTO working party on Russia’s accession is scheduled.
Negotiations on the accession of a new member to WTO are held within a working party, uniting countries that have unsettled trade issues with a candidate country. The meeting is expected to approve the Russia’s draft accession document, a voluminous report detailing conditions for joining the organization.
“We have also agreed to the text of the working party report on Russia’s accession, which relates its WTO related commitments to Georgia,” Kapanadze said.
Georgischer Unterhändler Sergi Kapanadze: 'Wir haben ein WTO-Abkommen mit Russland' - 04.10.2011, Civil Georgia
Georgian negotiator in the Swiss-mediated WTO talks with Moscow, Sergi Kapanadze, said on November 4, that an agreement had been reached with Russia and only technical issues are remaining, which should be settled in next five days.
“We have an agreement with Russia,” Sergi Kapanadze, the Georgian deputy foreign minister, said after talks in Geneva. “We are glad that they [the Russian side] finally were able to accept the final Swiss proposal. Initialing of the agreement will happen tomorrow in Geneva.”
He said that the text of the agreement “is the same”, which Georgia had accepted last week.
“We will have technical work remaining next week, but hopefully there will be no complications as we have agreement over the text now,” Kapanadze said.
He also said that next week the Swiss mediators would provide the text of the mandate that it would confer to a neutral private company.
According to the deal observers from a private company will be stationed at the both ends of so called "trade corridors", but not inside of these corridors, meaning that they will not be stationed inside the breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgian officials said last week, that trade corridors, which will be defined by their geographic coordinates not by names, lie through breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The monitoring will also involve Zemo Larsi-Kazbegi border crossing point, which is on the undisputed section of the Georgian-Russian border, outside the breakaway regions.
“We will also have to agree to the text of the contract that Georgia and Russia will sign with the monitors,” Sergi Kapanadze said.
He said that the agreement should be signed before November 10, when the formal meeting of the WTO working party on Russia’s accession is scheduled.
Negotiations on the accession of a new member to WTO are held within a working party, uniting countries that have unsettled trade issues with a candidate country. The meeting is expected to approve the Russia’s draft accession document, a voluminous report detailing conditions for joining the organization.
“We have also agreed to the text of the working party report on Russia’s accession, which relates its WTO related commitments to Georgia,” Kapanadze said.
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Krieg-2008, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
Friedensplan für Abchasien von Steinmaier
09.07.2008 | Auswärtiges Amt | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Tiflis (AA)
Die Bundesregierung unterstützt Bemühungen um eine Lösung des Konflikts um die Schwarzmeerregion Abchasien in Georgien. Ein mehrstufiger Plan soll helfen, die Situation zu deeskalieren und den Weg für eine friedliche Lösung zu bereiten. Schritt für Schritt soll Vertrauen aufgebaut werden. Gemeinsame Projekte sollen den Wiederaufbau ermöglichen.
Deutschland setzt sich als Koordinator der sogenannten „Freundesgruppe des VN-Generalsekretärs für Georgien“, der außerdem Frankreich, Großbritannien, Russland und die USA angehören, mit Nachdruck für einen strukturierten Verhandlungsprozess zwischen den Parteien im Konflikt um die Region Abchasien (Georgien) ein. Bundesaußenminister Steinmeier rief die Parteien nach den jüngsten gewalttätigen Zwischenfällen dazu auf, alles zu unternehmen, um eine weitere Eskalation zu verhindern.
Steinmeier betont, eine umfassende friedliche Lösung der Konflikte in Georgien sei dringend. Die Bundesregierung hat im Rahmen der Freundesgruppe einen Plan zur Konfliktlösung in Abchasien entwickelt. In mehreren Schritten soll der seit Beginn der 90er Jahre währende Konflikt entschärft werden: Zunächst soll Vertrauen zwischen den Konfliktparteien geschaffen werden, dann gemeinsame Projekte den Wiederaufbau der Region vorantreiben.
Seit dem Zusammenbruch der Sowjetunion Anfang der 90er Jahre schwelt der Konflikt zwischen Georgien und der Region Abchasien. Die Region erklärte sich 1992 für unabhängig. Dies wird jedoch von der internationalen Gemeinschaft nicht anerkannt. Wirtschaftlich ist die Region stark von Russland abhängig. In Abchasien sind rund 3000 russische Soldaten zur Friedenssicherung stationiert. In Abchasien führten die Auseinandersetzungen zu Flucht und Vertreibung der georgischen Bevölkerung. Georgien muss seitdem mit dem Schicksal von rund 260.000 Binnenflüchtlingen fertig werden.
Deutschlands Unterstützung für Konfliktlösung
In besonderer Verantwortung sieht sich Deutschland insbesondere mit Blick auf Abchasien: Seit 2003 ist Deutschland Koordinator der Freundesgruppe des Generalsekretärs der Vereinten Nationen für Georgien.
Der Freundesgruppe des Generalsekretärs für Georgien gehören neben Deutschland auch Großbritannien, Russland, Frankreich und die USA an.
Zuletzt trafen sich die Mitglieder der Gruppe Ende Juni in Berlin. Sie haben grundsätzliches Einverständnis mit dem von Steinmeier vorgeschlagenen mehrstufigen Plan signalisiert.
Die Bundeswehr stellt Militärbeobachter und Sanitäter für die in der Krisenregion eingesetzte Mission der Vereinten Nationen (UNOMIG – "United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia"). Daneben stellt Deutschland mit vier Polizistinnen und Polizisten auch einen wichtigen Anteil der UNOMIG Polizeimission. Ihre Aufgabe ist die Beratung, Unterstützung und Ausbildung der georgischen Polizei.
Stichworte: Georgien, EU, Süd Ossetien, Abchasien, Sprache: deutsch, Archiv: #
Wladimir Putins arroganter Auftritt in Dresden
17.01.2009 | Welt Online | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Es war Tag elf der Gasblockade, als Russlands Regierungschef in Dresden einen Dankesorden erhielt. Damit nicht genug der Verrücktheiten: Putin war ausgerechnet in Dresden über Jahre für den KGB tätig. Und am Ende des Abends mahnte er noch eine gefälligere Berichterstattung über Russland an. ......
... Im Zusammenhang mit dem Gasstreit Russland-Ukraine sagte Putin: „Man kann auch Georgien und die Ukraine anders schützen als durch eine Nato-Mitgliedschaft.“ Dass der Mann, der zwei georgische Provinzen faktisch annektiert hat, von „Schutz“ sprach, fanden einige Teilnehmer so unpassend wie die Tatsache, dass der ihm überreichte Orden das Motiv des Heiligen Georg ziert. Der ist nämlich der Schutzheilige Georgiens.
Stichworte: Russland, Putin, Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Sprache: deutsch, Archiv: #
Es war Tag elf der Gasblockade, als Russlands Regierungschef in Dresden einen Dankesorden erhielt. Damit nicht genug der Verrücktheiten: Putin war ausgerechnet in Dresden über Jahre für den KGB tätig. Und am Ende des Abends mahnte er noch eine gefälligere Berichterstattung über Russland an. ......
... Im Zusammenhang mit dem Gasstreit Russland-Ukraine sagte Putin: „Man kann auch Georgien und die Ukraine anders schützen als durch eine Nato-Mitgliedschaft.“ Dass der Mann, der zwei georgische Provinzen faktisch annektiert hat, von „Schutz“ sprach, fanden einige Teilnehmer so unpassend wie die Tatsache, dass der ihm überreichte Orden das Motiv des Heiligen Georg ziert. Der ist nämlich der Schutzheilige Georgiens.
Stichworte: Russland, Putin, Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Sprache: deutsch, Archiv: #
UNM-PARTEI ORGANISIERT KUNDGEBUNG IN TBILISI MIT ANSPRACHE VON EX-PRÄSIDENT SAAKASHVILI - 15.11.2014
UNM-PARTEI ORGANISIERT KUNDGEBUNG IN TBILISI MIT ANSPRACHE VON EX-PRÄSIDENT SAAKASHVILI
Proteste in Georgien gegen Pakt zwischen Abchasien und Russland - 15.11.2014, deutschlandfunk.de
Etwa 30.000 Menschen haben in der georgischen Hauptstadt Tiflis gegen die eigene Regierung und gegen Russland demonstriert. Ihr Protest richtet sich gegen ein geplantes Abkommen zwischen der von Georgien abtrünnigen Region Abchasien und Moskau. ...
Über 30.000 demonstrieren in Georgien gegen Regierung und Russland - 15.11.2014, welt.de
... Viele der Demonstranten trugen georgische und ukrainische Flaggen mit sich und hielten Spruchbänder mit der Aufschrift "Stoppt Putin" in die Höhe.
Video
Thousands of people have been taking part in an anti-Russia protest in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.
The rally was organised by Georgia's main opposition party, the United National Movement. ...
... Mr Saakashvili addressed the rally by video link from Kiev as the cheering crowd chanted his name.
"Let's show Georgia's government that the nation is united against the serious threat to its independence, its future," he said. Saakashvili's UNM party has accused the ruling Georgian Dream coalition government of not confronting what it claims is Russia's creeping annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. ...
At ‘No to Annexation’ Protest Rally UNM Slams ‘Collaborationist’ Govt - 15.11.2014, civil.ge
Protesters march on Rustaveli Avenue on November 15, 2014. Photo: Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge
Thousands of protesters were gathered in Tbilisi center on November 15 at a rally organized by the opposition UNM party against what it calls is Georgian government’s “inaction” amid threat of “annexation” of Georgia’s breakaway regions by Russia.
In his address via video link from Kiev, ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is chairman of UNM party, told protesters, gathered on the Rustaveli Avenue outside the Parliament, that it is now time “for the entire nation to stand united and to tell, before it is not too late, to [ex-PM Bidzina] Ivanishvili that the Georgian nation does not share his dream.”
UNM announced about the intention to hold the rally late last month after Russia-proposed new treaty on “alliance and integration” with breakaway Abkhazia was unveiled and which the Georgian Parliament condemned as “an attempt to annex occupied Abkhazia.” UNM said that it was also going to protest against what it calls the Georgian government’s policy of appeasement vis-à-vis Russia, which, the opposition says, has led to removal issue of the Georgian occupied territories from the international agenda.
Protesters, who were also joined by UNM supporters from some other towns, marched from Rose Square towards the Parliament building on the Rustaveli Avenue, holding a huge banner reading: “Stop Russia.” Some protesters were also holding posters “No to Annexation”, as well as EU, U.S. and Ukrainian flags along side with the Georgian flags, and a huge NATO flag was stretched in the middle of the protest venue at the Parliament.
A protester at UNM-organized protest rally in Tbilisi holds Ukrainian and EU flags as demonstrators, carrying a huge banner reading “Stop Russia”, march on the Rustaveli Avenue on November 15, 2014. Photo: Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge
UNM MP Giorgi Gabashvili told the rally that the Georgian government is “deceiving itself, its own people and the entire world as if we are busy with mending our relations with the occupant.”
“No to annexation, down with the occupant, down with the collaborationist government,” MP Gabashvili said. “If the government does not revise its collaborationist policies, the verdict will be delivered and it will be delivered soon.”
UNM MP Irma Nadirashvili said: “I think that a political verdict has already been delivered against our government and these people, who are now standing here, will definitely executive this verdict in a democratic manner and it will happen very soon.”
“We came here because we have no hope in our government. We see slavish silence from our government while Russia prepares agreements for eventual annexation of Abkhazia and Samachablo [referring to breakaway South Ossetia],” she said.
Nika Melia, who was UNM’s Tbilisi mayoral candidate in 2014 local elections, told the rally: “The enemy, standing in 40 kilometers [referring to Russian troops in breakaway South Ossetia], will not be able to harm us, if we don’t have a collaborationist government in 400 meters from here [referring to a government building].”
“[Ex-PM] Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Russian money will never reign in Georgia; Georgia’s fate will never be solved in Moscow; Russia’s positions will never strengthen in our country,” he added.
View of the protest rally venue where two huge screens were installed through which ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili address supporters via video link from Kiev, November 15, 2014. Photo: Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge
When ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is wanted by the Georgian authorities on multiple criminal charges, appeared on a huge screen installed at the protest venue, demonstrators greeted him by chanting: “Misha, Misha.”
Speaking via video link from the Ukrainian capital, Saakashvili portrayed situation in Georgia as a struggle between two “conflicting models” – the one, he said, “which we believe in and another one, which Ivanishvili wants.”
Crossed out picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin and posters reading: “No to Occupation” seen at a protest rally in Tbilisi, November 15, 2014. Photo: Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge
Saakashvili, who called the rally “march of dignity”, said that on the one hand there is Georgia, which “still struggles for its dignity” and on the other there is Ivanishvili, who wants Georgia to appease “bear” and “follow it obediently to its den.”
He said that “Ivanishvili’s Georgia” is “tailored to the dream of one provincial dictator”.
“On the one hand, there is Georgia, which speaks out loudly against occupation and for our rights, our aspiration to freedom, and on the other hand, they want Georgia, which does not believe that Russia has aggressive plans and intentions against us and other neighbors; on the one hand there is Georgia, which is taking a European path, which believes that only this path can lead us to freedom… and on the other hand, there is Georgia, which disgracefully coordinates which path to follow with Kremlin messenger [Russia’s deputy foreign minister Grigory] Karasin,” Saakashvili said, referring to talks Georgian PM’s special envoy for relations with Russia, Zurab Abashidze and Karasin.
UNM MP Giorgi Vashadze addresses protesters in Tbilisi center, November 15, 2014. Photo: Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge
“Ivanishvili’s Georgia is silent and our Georgia is making a noise, like the Rustaveli Avenue is making a noise today,” he said. “Ivanishvili’s Georgia is alone; we have a huge army of Georgia’s friends.”
“We should demonstrate to our enemy that its dream to break the neck to the idea of Georgia’s statehood with the help of the fifth column, tricks, bribery, intimidation, oppression, is doomed to failure once and forever and we will bury it.”
The rally was opened late afternoon with a moment of silence in honor of Kakha Bendukidze, who was behind anti-corruption and liberal economic reforms under Saakashvili’s administration, and who died on November 13 in London aged 58. The demonstration ended peacefully without any incidents after Saakashvili’s address, followed by the national anthem of Georgia and the EU anthem, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
Bundesregierung unterstützt Wiederaufbau in Georgien
21.10.2008 | Auswärtiges Amt | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Am 22. Oktober kommen auf Einladung von EU-Kommission und Weltbank zahlreiche Regierungen in Brüssel zu einer Geberkonfernz für Georgien zusammen. Deutschland unterstützt den Wiederaufbau des Landes mit einem substanziellen Beitrag.
Als am 8. August der lange schwelende Konflikt um die von Georgien abtrünnigen Regionen Abchasien und Südossetien offen ausbrach, hatte dies nicht nur weitreichende politische Folgen. Auch wichtige Infrastruktur wurde zerstört, Menschen aus ihren Heimatdörfern vertrieben, und die georgische Wirtschaft erlitt schwere Einbußen.
Die Bundesregierung hat unmittelbar nach Beendigung der Kampfhandlungen erste humanitäre Hilfe geleistet. Nun will die internationale Gemeinschaft die Grundlage für einen nachhaltigen Wiederaufbau und die Beseitigung der Kriegsfolgen legen. Deutschland wird sich mit einem substanziellen Beitrag daran beteiligen.
Decken für Bedürftige in Notunterkünften (AA)
Ziel: weitere Stabilisierung Georgiens
Auf Einladung der Europäischen Kommission und der Weltbank findet in Brüssel eine internationale Wiederaufbaukonferenz für Georgien statt. Ihr Ziel ist es, das Land bei der Wiederherstellung zerstörter Infrastruktur, der Reintegration von Binnenflüchtlingen und der Beseitigung der Kriegsfolgen zu unterstützen.
Die Bundesregierung wird sich an diesen Bemühungen mit einem substanziellen Beitrag beteiligen. Sie wird auf der Konferenz vertreten durch den Staatsminister im Auswärtigen Amt, Gernot Erler, und den Staatssekretär des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, Erich Stather. Die deutschen Mittel sollen zu einem großen Teil den vom Konflikt am meisten Betroffenen – also den Flüchtlingen und Vertriebenen – zugute kommen.
Die Konferenz ist ein weiterer Schritt zur Stabilisierung Georgiens. Der Europäischen Union war es nach Ausbruch des Konflikts in intensiven Vermittlungsbemühungen gelungen, die Einstellung der Kampfhandlungen zu erreichen. Grundlage war ein zwischen der EU, Georgien und Russland ausgehandelter 6-Punkte-Plan.
Vielfältige Bemühungen
In Umsetzung dieses Planes hat die Europäische Union seit Anfang Oktober eine Beobachtermission nach Georgien entsandt, um die Einhaltung des Waffenstillstands zu überwachen. Sie wird geleitet von dem deutschen Diplomaten Hansjörg Haber. Als Teil der Vereinbarung hat Russland hat seine Truppen, die im Zuge des Konflikts auch in das georgische Kernland einmarschiert waren, aus den an Südossetien und Abchasien angrenzenden Gebieten abgezogen.
Am 15. Oktober fanden auf Einladung der Europäischen Union, der Vereinten Nationen und der OSZE in Genf erstmals seit Ausbruch der Krise wieder direkte Gespräche zwischen Georgien und Russland statt. Sie sollen am 18. November fortgesetzt werden.
Stichworte: Georgien, EU, Süd Ossetien, Abchasien, Sprache: deutsch, Archiv: #
Neue Töne aus Russland zu den Beziehungen mit Georgien betonen gemeinsame historische Leistungen und orthodoxe Traditionen
09.05.2009 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video
Präsident Medvedev gratuliert Georgien zum 2.Weltkrieg-Siegestag
"Die Georgier und Russen waren nie Feinde; gegenseitige Anziehung zwischen den beiden geistig nahestehenden Nationen wird helfen, beidseitig nutzbringende partnerschaftliche Beziehungen zu entwickeln."
“On May 9 we honour our fathers and grandfathers who fought shoulder to shoulder on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, crushed Nazism, upheld our freedom, and influenced the entire course of world history,” the message posted on the Kremlin website on May 8 reads. “The joint struggle against Nazi invaders is one of the most memorable and heroic pages in the centuries-old chronicles of Russian-Georgian friendship. We will never forget that it was a Russian, Mikhail Yegorov, and a Georgian, Meliton Kantaria, who hoisted the flag on top of the disarmed Reichstag.”
“Our common historical heritage and tradition of good-neighborliness and partnership remains a solid foundation for the restoration of trust and mutual understanding between our peoples, peoples who have never been enemies. And despite the fact that today relations between Russia and Georgia are being subjected to severe tests, people-to-people contacts, cooperation between social and cultural organisations, and links between Russian and Georgian Orthodox churches continue unabated. All this gives us hope that the mutual attraction between the two spiritually close nations will help us work together and develop mutually beneficial, partner relations.”
Speaking at Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 Medvedev said: “Our victory over fascism is a great example and a great lesson to all nations, a lesson which is still topical today, when again and again people appear who indulge in military adventurism… Defense of our homeland is our holy duty... We are sure that any aggression against our citizens will be decisively rebuffed.
weitere Quelle: Videoblog zum Siegestag - bei http://russland.ru/
Stichworte: Georgien, Russland, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
Präsident Medvedev gratuliert Georgien zum 2.Weltkrieg-Siegestag
"Die Georgier und Russen waren nie Feinde; gegenseitige Anziehung zwischen den beiden geistig nahestehenden Nationen wird helfen, beidseitig nutzbringende partnerschaftliche Beziehungen zu entwickeln."
“On May 9 we honour our fathers and grandfathers who fought shoulder to shoulder on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, crushed Nazism, upheld our freedom, and influenced the entire course of world history,” the message posted on the Kremlin website on May 8 reads. “The joint struggle against Nazi invaders is one of the most memorable and heroic pages in the centuries-old chronicles of Russian-Georgian friendship. We will never forget that it was a Russian, Mikhail Yegorov, and a Georgian, Meliton Kantaria, who hoisted the flag on top of the disarmed Reichstag.”
“Our common historical heritage and tradition of good-neighborliness and partnership remains a solid foundation for the restoration of trust and mutual understanding between our peoples, peoples who have never been enemies. And despite the fact that today relations between Russia and Georgia are being subjected to severe tests, people-to-people contacts, cooperation between social and cultural organisations, and links between Russian and Georgian Orthodox churches continue unabated. All this gives us hope that the mutual attraction between the two spiritually close nations will help us work together and develop mutually beneficial, partner relations.”
Speaking at Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9 Medvedev said: “Our victory over fascism is a great example and a great lesson to all nations, a lesson which is still topical today, when again and again people appear who indulge in military adventurism… Defense of our homeland is our holy duty... We are sure that any aggression against our citizens will be decisively rebuffed.
weitere Quelle: Videoblog zum Siegestag - bei http://russland.ru/
Stichworte: Georgien, Russland, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
134 Georgier reichen Klagen gegen Russland am europäischen Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte ein
16.02.2010 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
134 Georgier reichen Klagen am europäischen Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte ein; sie klagen gegen Russland wegen der Verletzung etlicher europäischer Menschenrechte wahrend des Krieges im August 2008:
134 Georgian citizens lodged complaints to the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last week, claiming that Russia violated number of European human rights laws against them during the 2008, August war.
Tbilisi-based Georgian young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and its London-based partner European Human Rights Advocacy Center (EHRAC), acting on behalf of the 134 applicants, said the applications primarily concern cases of shelling and air attacks on villages; destruction of property and the killing or injuring of civilians and the deliberate burning and looting of houses.
The applications, which are in 34 groups, originate from the Georgian villages within the breakaway South Ossetia and the surrounding areas (Achabeti, Argvitsi, Atsriskhevi, Avlevi, Berula, Brotsleti, Dzartsemi, Dvani, Eredvi, Kekhvi, Kere, Kitsnisi, Ksuisi, Kurta, Satskheneti, Tkviavi, Vanati, Zardiaantkari and Zemo Khviti), as well as from the town of Gori.
“These cases raise important questions about the applicability of the ECHR to a conflict situation, and they will also test the ‘reach’ of the ECHR - the applicants are asking the Court to find Russia responsible for violations perpetrated by its armed forces outside Russian territory,” EHRAC said.
“The Court will also be asked to decide that the Russian Federation was responsible both for the actions of its armed forces and of Ossetian militia.”
The complaints have been lodged against Russia based on the principle of “effective control”, which the Russian forces have been exerting on the territories concerned, Natia Katsitadze, a lawyer with GYLA, told Civil.Ge
Last January, ECHR said it had examined seven applications lodged against Georgia in connection with the August war and the Chamber decided to give priority to these applications.
These applications were lodged by six residents of South Ossetia and a member of the Russian armed forces attached to the peacekeeping troops in Tskhinvali, according to ECHR.
In these cases the applicants claim violation of their or their close relatives’ right to life, inhuman or degrading treatment, interference with the right to respect for private and family life and home, damage to property or its destruction, absence of an effective domestic remedy and discrimination on the ground of ethnic origin.
früherer Artikel:
ECHR to Hear Georgia vs. Russia Case - 04.07.2009, Civil Georgia
134 Georgier reichen Klagen am europäischen Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte ein; sie klagen gegen Russland wegen der Verletzung etlicher europäischer Menschenrechte wahrend des Krieges im August 2008:
134 Georgian citizens lodged complaints to the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last week, claiming that Russia violated number of European human rights laws against them during the 2008, August war.
Tbilisi-based Georgian young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and its London-based partner European Human Rights Advocacy Center (EHRAC), acting on behalf of the 134 applicants, said the applications primarily concern cases of shelling and air attacks on villages; destruction of property and the killing or injuring of civilians and the deliberate burning and looting of houses.
The applications, which are in 34 groups, originate from the Georgian villages within the breakaway South Ossetia and the surrounding areas (Achabeti, Argvitsi, Atsriskhevi, Avlevi, Berula, Brotsleti, Dzartsemi, Dvani, Eredvi, Kekhvi, Kere, Kitsnisi, Ksuisi, Kurta, Satskheneti, Tkviavi, Vanati, Zardiaantkari and Zemo Khviti), as well as from the town of Gori.
“These cases raise important questions about the applicability of the ECHR to a conflict situation, and they will also test the ‘reach’ of the ECHR - the applicants are asking the Court to find Russia responsible for violations perpetrated by its armed forces outside Russian territory,” EHRAC said.
“The Court will also be asked to decide that the Russian Federation was responsible both for the actions of its armed forces and of Ossetian militia.”
The complaints have been lodged against Russia based on the principle of “effective control”, which the Russian forces have been exerting on the territories concerned, Natia Katsitadze, a lawyer with GYLA, told Civil.Ge
Last January, ECHR said it had examined seven applications lodged against Georgia in connection with the August war and the Chamber decided to give priority to these applications.
These applications were lodged by six residents of South Ossetia and a member of the Russian armed forces attached to the peacekeeping troops in Tskhinvali, according to ECHR.
In these cases the applicants claim violation of their or their close relatives’ right to life, inhuman or degrading treatment, interference with the right to respect for private and family life and home, damage to property or its destruction, absence of an effective domestic remedy and discrimination on the ground of ethnic origin.
früherer Artikel:
ECHR to Hear Georgia vs. Russia Case - 04.07.2009, Civil Georgia
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said on July 3 it found Georgia’s complaints against Russia over deportations admissible for hearing.
The Strasbourg-based court said in a statement that it “has declared admissible the application lodged in the case of Georgia v. Russia.”
“The Court’s admissibility decision in no way prejudges the merits of the Georgian Government’s complaints. The Court will deliver its judgment at a later date,” it said.
Tbilisi wants Moscow to reimburse pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages for the alleged violation of the rights of hundreds of ethnic Georgians deported from the Russian Federation.
Over 2,000 ethnic Georgians were deported from Russia in late September 2006 and early 2007 following Russian-Georgian spy row.
Russland bietet freundliche Worte an, aber die Faust ist geballt
05.02.2009 | The New York Times | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
"Russia Offers Kind Words, but Its Fist Is Clenched"
Analyse der Beziehungen Russland-USA im Zusammenhang mit den Plänen Kirgistans, den amerikanischen Stützpunkt zur Versorgung der Truppen in Afghanistan aufzulösen.
Stichworte: Russland, Putin, USA, Obama, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
"Russia Offers Kind Words, but Its Fist Is Clenched"
Analyse der Beziehungen Russland-USA im Zusammenhang mit den Plänen Kirgistans, den amerikanischen Stützpunkt zur Versorgung der Truppen in Afghanistan aufzulösen.
Stichworte: Russland, Putin, USA, Obama, Sprache: 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: #
'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: #
NATO-GIPFEL 2010 IN LISSABON
20.11.2010 | Civil.ge | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Georgien in der NATO-Gipfelerklärung - wörtliche Auszüge - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
- Stabilität und erfolgreiche politische und wirtschaftliche Reformen in Georgien sind wichtig für die euro-atlantische Stabilität
- Bukarest-Entscheidung in allen Entscheidungen wiederholt: Georgien wird ein NATO-Mitglied werden
- NATO-Russland-Kooperation ist von strategischer Bedeutung
20. ...Stability and successful political and economic reform in Georgia and Ukraine are important to Euro-Atlantic security. We will continue and develop the partnerships with these countries taking into account the Euro-Atlantic aspiration or orientation of each of the countries.
21. At the 2008 Bucharest Summit we agreed that Georgia will become a member of NATO and we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions. We will foster political dialogue and practical cooperation with Georgia, including through the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme. We strongly encourage and actively support Georgia’s continued implementation of all necessary reforms, particularly democratic, electoral and judicial reforms, as well as security and defence sector reforms, in order to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We welcome the recent opening of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia which will help in maximising our assistance and support for the country’s reform efforts. We welcome Georgia’s important contributions to NATO operations, in particular to ISAF. We reiterate our continued support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. We encourage all participants in the Geneva talks to play a constructive role as well as to continue working closely with the OSCE, UN and the EU to pursue peaceful conflict resolution in the internationally-recognised territory of Georgia. We continue to call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states...
23. ...NATO-Russia cooperation is of strategic importance, as reflected by today’s meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) at the level of Heads of State and Government in Lisbon. In light of common security interests, we are determined to build a lasting and inclusive peace, together with Russia, in the Euro-Atlantic Area. We need to share responsibility in facing up to common challenges, jointly identified. We want to see a true strategic partnership between NATO and Russia, and we will act accordingly, with the expectation of reciprocity from Russia. We recommit ourselves to the goals, principles and commitments which underpin the NRC. On this firm basis, we urge Russia to meet its commitments with respect to Georgia, as mediated by the European Union on 12 August and 8 September 2008. Over the past year, NATO-Russia cooperation has progressed and produced notable results. We welcome, in particular, the completion of the Joint Review of 21st Century Common Security Challenges, which has identified practical cooperation projects on Afghanistan, including counter-narcotics; non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; counter-piracy; counter-terrorism; and disaster response. We also welcome the new extended arrangements offered by Russia to facilitate ISAF transit to and from Afghanistan. We are actively pursuing cooperation with Russia on missile defence, including through the resumption of theatre missile defence exercises. We will also want to discuss in the NRC a range of other topics, including Afghanistan; implementing OSCE principles; military deployments, including any that could be perceived as threatening; information sharing and transparency on military doctrine and posture, as well as the overall disparity in short-range nuclear weapons; arms control; and other security issues. We look forward to discussing all these matters in the NRC, which is a forum for political dialogue at all times and on all issues, including where we disagree. Our dialogue and cooperation with Russia also help us to resolve differences by building trust, mutual confidence, transparency, predictability and mutual understanding...
35. ... With our vision of a Euro-Atlantic area at peace, the persistence of protracted regional conflicts in South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova continues to be a matter of great concern for the Alliance. We urge all parties to engage constructively and with reinforced political will in peaceful conflict resolution, and to respect the current negotiation formats. We call on them all to avoid steps that undermine regional security and stability. We remain committed in our support of the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, and will also continue to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of these regional conflicts, taking into account these principles.
Russ. Präsident Medvedev: Georgien 'wahrscheinlich schwerwiegendste' Unstimmigkeit mit NATO - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, said that at Lisbon summit NATO and Moscow made “a significant step forward” towards boosting cooperation, but also said that differences, including on Georgia, remain.
“One of the most serious differences probably is about our assessment of 2008 events – attitude towards what has happened in August, 2008, towards those geopolitical changes, which occurred at that time; in particular emergence of two new states – South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But we [Russia and NATO] have noted that this issue should not become a stumbling stone,” Medvedev said while speaking at a news conference after NATO-Russia Council meeting in Lisbon on November 20.
“We have agreed that [differences] should not disrupt our relations,” he said. “On the contrary, we should work on finding ways out of these difficult situations. We should work on hearing each others’ arguments.”
Medvedev said that in overall the Lisbon summit was “a significant step forward towards strengthening our relations” and for that reason, he added, this summit was “a historic event.”
Georgien in der Abschlusserklärung des NATO-Gipfels in Lissabon - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
... Wie die Erklärung nach dem Strasbourg/Kehl-Gipfel ruft die jüngste Erklärung Russland auf, "seine Anerkennung von der Südossetien- und Abchasien-Region von Georgien als unabhängige Staaten rückgängig zu machen". ...
Like NATO’s new strategic concept, in respect of Georgia, the final declaration of Lisbon summit reiterates the decision taken by NATO leaders at 2008 Bucharest summit, that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance.
It also reaffirms subsequent decisions taken by the Alliance in respect of Georgia, which among others also includes the one of 2009 Strasbourg/Kehl summit in which NATO leaders said that Georgia’s Annual National Programme, setting reforms targets, will help Georgia in advancing its reforms “without prejudice to further decisions which must be taken about MAP” – Membership Action Plan, a precursor to an eventual membership to which Georgia was refused at 2008 Bucharest summit.
Like the 2009 Strasbourg/Kehl declaration, the recent one again calls on Russia “to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states.”
While noting that NATO wants to see “a true strategic partnership” with Russia, the Lisbon summit declaration reiterates support to Georgia’s territorial integrity and calls on Moscow “to meet its commitments with respect to Georgia” undertaken under the August 12, 2008 six-point ceasefire agreement and follow up treaty of September 8, 2008.
It says that “protracted regional conflicts” in South Caucasus and in Moldova “continues to be a matter of great concern for the Alliance.”
“We strongly encourage and actively support Georgia’s continued implementation of all necessary reforms, particularly democratic, electoral and judicial reforms, as well as security and defence sector reforms, in order to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” the declaration reads.
NATO-Generalsekretär Rasmussen sagt, eine verbesserte NATO-Russland-Beziehung werde in veritabler Weise dazu beitragen, eine Lösung im Konflikt Georgien-Russland zu finden - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who announced about launch of “fundamentally new relations” between NATO and Russia, said improved ties between the Alliance and Moscow would also help to resolve conflict between Russia and Georgia.
Speaking at a news conference after a meeting between NATO leaders and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Lisbon, Rasmussen said that the Alliance and Russia “agreed in writing that while we face main security challenges we pose no threat to each other.”
"For the first time the two sides will be cooperating to defend themselves," Rasmussen said.
Asked how “fundamentally new relations” between Russia and NATO might effect conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi, Rasmussen responded: “I hope to see a resolution to that very unfortunate conflict and I can assure that within the framework, we have created for consultations with Russia, we will continue to discuss the Georgia issue.”
“The NATO position remains the same; we insist on full respect of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; we will continue to pursue a non-recognition policy as regards Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”
"Generally speaking, I do believe, that an improved relationship between NATO and Russia will also contribute in a valuable way to find the solutions to the conflict between Russia and Georgia," Rasmussen said.
Präsident Saakashvili über 'fruchtbarste diplomatische Woche' - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
President Saakashvili said this week was the most “fruitful” in terms of diplomatic successes for Georgia under his presidency.
Speaking to a group of Georgian journalists in Lisbon on sideline of NATO summit after meeting with President Obama, Saakashvili said that NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s resolution, his trip to Brussels to meet with EU leadership and talks with his U.S. counterpart, as well as his upcoming speech before the European Parliament on November 23 was marking failure of Russia’s attempts “to cast away and sideline” Georgia on the international arena.
“I am on this post [of the President] for many years already, but I do not remember having - and we have not had – such a fruitful international week. It means that all the attempts – and lots of money have been invested in those attempts - to somehow weaken… and to cast away and sideline Georgia [have foiled] and on the contrary, those attempts boomeranged against perpetrators of those attempts,” Saakashvili said.
“This indicates on the fact that in every type of relations the truth will always prevail and good will always defeat evil. We need patience.”
“In the 21st century, nobody will last long as an occupying force on a territory of the European country. This status of an occupier has been established and support to Georgia has been strengthened. What we need now is patience, unity – and I think that our people have this unity today – and we need hard work to make Georgia stronger,” he said.
Saakashvili said that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly resolution, which mentions “occupation” and “ethnic cleansing”, was not “a minor event” and it was a result of “a huge diplomatic struggle.”
He also said that he was the only President of non-EU member state to be honored with an opportunity to address the European Parliament twice. He first addressed MEPs in November, 2006.
"It happens not because there is a special attention personally to me, but because of support of Europe and rest of the world towards Georgia," he said.
Präsident Saakashvili 'zufrieden' mit den Gesprächen mit Obama - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Schon die Tatsache, dass Präsident Obama nur wenige Treffen neben dem NATO-Gipfel einplante und dabei Georgien berücksichtigte, war eine wichtige Botschaft.
President Saakashvili said the fact that President Obama’s scheduled of few bilateral meetings on sidelines of NATO Lisbon summit also included talks with his Georgian counterpart was in itself “an important message”.
“I am very satisfied with this meeting,” Saakashvili told a group of Georgian journalists in Lisbon after meeting with President Obama late on November 19 evening. “As you know this was President Obama’s only meeting here at NATO summit, apart his meetings with [Afghan] President Karzai and with the hosts [referring to Portuguese leaders] – and you know that Afghanistan tops the agenda of this summit; actually he had no other meetings here except of these ones. Of course this is already in itself an important message.”
“During the meeting the President [Obama] made an extremely supportive statements about reforms in Georgia; he assessed highly democratic and economic reforms carried out in Georgia; he demonstrated good knowledge of details of the situation [in Georgia]; not only he reiterated support to Georgia’s territorial integrity, but [also demonstrated] that they [the U.S. authorities] are working on this issue and of course [Obama expressed] support towards the path, which will lead us to the NATO membership,” Saakashvili said.
'Georgien bleibt in Afghanistan bis die Mission vollendet ist' - 19.11.2010, Civil Georgia
President Saakashvili said on November 19 that Georgia would remain committed to the Afghan mission until it's accomplished.
Saakashvili made the remarks at a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, on a sideline of NATO summit in Lisbon.
“You know we are second biggest per capita contributors to Afghanistan in terms of numbers of troops. We have no caveats and we are fighting alongside the Americans, Canadians, with British and we are willing to stay there until the mission is accomplished,” he said.
Georgia has 950 troops in Afghanistan; five Georgian soldiers were killed in combat in two separate incidents in early and late September.
Saakashvili also said at the meeting with the Canadian PM: “We love Canada in Georgia, not only in Georgia, but in the whole region, and not only because it’s a great country but it has been paying great attention to our region. It has been outspoken in defence of values and it’s a great ally in Afghanistan."
Georgian State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Issues, Giorgi Baramidze, said that Canada "is an active supporter to Georgia's NATO integration." "These relations are very important for us," he said.
Meanwhile, Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister, Giga Bokeria, said on November 19, that Georgia was expecting that NATO summit in Lisbon would give a "firm" recommitment to its decision at the Bucharest summit in 2008 to eventual Georgian membership.
“We hope and we have a ground to hope that at this summit a very clear message will be made about future of Georgia’s NATO membership – that is a very firm reiteration of the NATO Bucharest summit decision; as you know there have been speculations on this issue and it is important to remove all the question marks about it,” Bokeria said.
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Krieg-2008, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
Georgien in der NATO-Gipfelerklärung - wörtliche Auszüge - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
- Stabilität und erfolgreiche politische und wirtschaftliche Reformen in Georgien sind wichtig für die euro-atlantische Stabilität
- Bukarest-Entscheidung in allen Entscheidungen wiederholt: Georgien wird ein NATO-Mitglied werden
- NATO-Russland-Kooperation ist von strategischer Bedeutung
20. ...Stability and successful political and economic reform in Georgia and Ukraine are important to Euro-Atlantic security. We will continue and develop the partnerships with these countries taking into account the Euro-Atlantic aspiration or orientation of each of the countries.
21. At the 2008 Bucharest Summit we agreed that Georgia will become a member of NATO and we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions. We will foster political dialogue and practical cooperation with Georgia, including through the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Annual National Programme. We strongly encourage and actively support Georgia’s continued implementation of all necessary reforms, particularly democratic, electoral and judicial reforms, as well as security and defence sector reforms, in order to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We welcome the recent opening of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia which will help in maximising our assistance and support for the country’s reform efforts. We welcome Georgia’s important contributions to NATO operations, in particular to ISAF. We reiterate our continued support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. We encourage all participants in the Geneva talks to play a constructive role as well as to continue working closely with the OSCE, UN and the EU to pursue peaceful conflict resolution in the internationally-recognised territory of Georgia. We continue to call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states...
23. ...NATO-Russia cooperation is of strategic importance, as reflected by today’s meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) at the level of Heads of State and Government in Lisbon. In light of common security interests, we are determined to build a lasting and inclusive peace, together with Russia, in the Euro-Atlantic Area. We need to share responsibility in facing up to common challenges, jointly identified. We want to see a true strategic partnership between NATO and Russia, and we will act accordingly, with the expectation of reciprocity from Russia. We recommit ourselves to the goals, principles and commitments which underpin the NRC. On this firm basis, we urge Russia to meet its commitments with respect to Georgia, as mediated by the European Union on 12 August and 8 September 2008. Over the past year, NATO-Russia cooperation has progressed and produced notable results. We welcome, in particular, the completion of the Joint Review of 21st Century Common Security Challenges, which has identified practical cooperation projects on Afghanistan, including counter-narcotics; non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery; counter-piracy; counter-terrorism; and disaster response. We also welcome the new extended arrangements offered by Russia to facilitate ISAF transit to and from Afghanistan. We are actively pursuing cooperation with Russia on missile defence, including through the resumption of theatre missile defence exercises. We will also want to discuss in the NRC a range of other topics, including Afghanistan; implementing OSCE principles; military deployments, including any that could be perceived as threatening; information sharing and transparency on military doctrine and posture, as well as the overall disparity in short-range nuclear weapons; arms control; and other security issues. We look forward to discussing all these matters in the NRC, which is a forum for political dialogue at all times and on all issues, including where we disagree. Our dialogue and cooperation with Russia also help us to resolve differences by building trust, mutual confidence, transparency, predictability and mutual understanding...
35. ... With our vision of a Euro-Atlantic area at peace, the persistence of protracted regional conflicts in South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova continues to be a matter of great concern for the Alliance. We urge all parties to engage constructively and with reinforced political will in peaceful conflict resolution, and to respect the current negotiation formats. We call on them all to avoid steps that undermine regional security and stability. We remain committed in our support of the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, and will also continue to support efforts towards a peaceful settlement of these regional conflicts, taking into account these principles.
Russ. Präsident Medvedev: Georgien 'wahrscheinlich schwerwiegendste' Unstimmigkeit mit NATO - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, said that at Lisbon summit NATO and Moscow made “a significant step forward” towards boosting cooperation, but also said that differences, including on Georgia, remain.
“One of the most serious differences probably is about our assessment of 2008 events – attitude towards what has happened in August, 2008, towards those geopolitical changes, which occurred at that time; in particular emergence of two new states – South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But we [Russia and NATO] have noted that this issue should not become a stumbling stone,” Medvedev said while speaking at a news conference after NATO-Russia Council meeting in Lisbon on November 20.
“We have agreed that [differences] should not disrupt our relations,” he said. “On the contrary, we should work on finding ways out of these difficult situations. We should work on hearing each others’ arguments.”
Medvedev said that in overall the Lisbon summit was “a significant step forward towards strengthening our relations” and for that reason, he added, this summit was “a historic event.”
Georgien in der Abschlusserklärung des NATO-Gipfels in Lissabon - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
... Wie die Erklärung nach dem Strasbourg/Kehl-Gipfel ruft die jüngste Erklärung Russland auf, "seine Anerkennung von der Südossetien- und Abchasien-Region von Georgien als unabhängige Staaten rückgängig zu machen". ...
Like NATO’s new strategic concept, in respect of Georgia, the final declaration of Lisbon summit reiterates the decision taken by NATO leaders at 2008 Bucharest summit, that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance.
It also reaffirms subsequent decisions taken by the Alliance in respect of Georgia, which among others also includes the one of 2009 Strasbourg/Kehl summit in which NATO leaders said that Georgia’s Annual National Programme, setting reforms targets, will help Georgia in advancing its reforms “without prejudice to further decisions which must be taken about MAP” – Membership Action Plan, a precursor to an eventual membership to which Georgia was refused at 2008 Bucharest summit.
Like the 2009 Strasbourg/Kehl declaration, the recent one again calls on Russia “to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states.”
While noting that NATO wants to see “a true strategic partnership” with Russia, the Lisbon summit declaration reiterates support to Georgia’s territorial integrity and calls on Moscow “to meet its commitments with respect to Georgia” undertaken under the August 12, 2008 six-point ceasefire agreement and follow up treaty of September 8, 2008.
It says that “protracted regional conflicts” in South Caucasus and in Moldova “continues to be a matter of great concern for the Alliance.”
“We strongly encourage and actively support Georgia’s continued implementation of all necessary reforms, particularly democratic, electoral and judicial reforms, as well as security and defence sector reforms, in order to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” the declaration reads.
NATO-Generalsekretär Rasmussen sagt, eine verbesserte NATO-Russland-Beziehung werde in veritabler Weise dazu beitragen, eine Lösung im Konflikt Georgien-Russland zu finden - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who announced about launch of “fundamentally new relations” between NATO and Russia, said improved ties between the Alliance and Moscow would also help to resolve conflict between Russia and Georgia.
Speaking at a news conference after a meeting between NATO leaders and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Lisbon, Rasmussen said that the Alliance and Russia “agreed in writing that while we face main security challenges we pose no threat to each other.”
"For the first time the two sides will be cooperating to defend themselves," Rasmussen said.
Asked how “fundamentally new relations” between Russia and NATO might effect conflict between Moscow and Tbilisi, Rasmussen responded: “I hope to see a resolution to that very unfortunate conflict and I can assure that within the framework, we have created for consultations with Russia, we will continue to discuss the Georgia issue.”
“The NATO position remains the same; we insist on full respect of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; we will continue to pursue a non-recognition policy as regards Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”
"Generally speaking, I do believe, that an improved relationship between NATO and Russia will also contribute in a valuable way to find the solutions to the conflict between Russia and Georgia," Rasmussen said.
Präsident Saakashvili über 'fruchtbarste diplomatische Woche' - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
President Saakashvili said this week was the most “fruitful” in terms of diplomatic successes for Georgia under his presidency.
Speaking to a group of Georgian journalists in Lisbon on sideline of NATO summit after meeting with President Obama, Saakashvili said that NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s resolution, his trip to Brussels to meet with EU leadership and talks with his U.S. counterpart, as well as his upcoming speech before the European Parliament on November 23 was marking failure of Russia’s attempts “to cast away and sideline” Georgia on the international arena.
“I am on this post [of the President] for many years already, but I do not remember having - and we have not had – such a fruitful international week. It means that all the attempts – and lots of money have been invested in those attempts - to somehow weaken… and to cast away and sideline Georgia [have foiled] and on the contrary, those attempts boomeranged against perpetrators of those attempts,” Saakashvili said.
“This indicates on the fact that in every type of relations the truth will always prevail and good will always defeat evil. We need patience.”
“In the 21st century, nobody will last long as an occupying force on a territory of the European country. This status of an occupier has been established and support to Georgia has been strengthened. What we need now is patience, unity – and I think that our people have this unity today – and we need hard work to make Georgia stronger,” he said.
Saakashvili said that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly resolution, which mentions “occupation” and “ethnic cleansing”, was not “a minor event” and it was a result of “a huge diplomatic struggle.”
He also said that he was the only President of non-EU member state to be honored with an opportunity to address the European Parliament twice. He first addressed MEPs in November, 2006.
"It happens not because there is a special attention personally to me, but because of support of Europe and rest of the world towards Georgia," he said.
Präsident Saakashvili 'zufrieden' mit den Gesprächen mit Obama - 20.11.2010, Civil Georgia
Schon die Tatsache, dass Präsident Obama nur wenige Treffen neben dem NATO-Gipfel einplante und dabei Georgien berücksichtigte, war eine wichtige Botschaft.
President Saakashvili said the fact that President Obama’s scheduled of few bilateral meetings on sidelines of NATO Lisbon summit also included talks with his Georgian counterpart was in itself “an important message”.
“I am very satisfied with this meeting,” Saakashvili told a group of Georgian journalists in Lisbon after meeting with President Obama late on November 19 evening. “As you know this was President Obama’s only meeting here at NATO summit, apart his meetings with [Afghan] President Karzai and with the hosts [referring to Portuguese leaders] – and you know that Afghanistan tops the agenda of this summit; actually he had no other meetings here except of these ones. Of course this is already in itself an important message.”
“During the meeting the President [Obama] made an extremely supportive statements about reforms in Georgia; he assessed highly democratic and economic reforms carried out in Georgia; he demonstrated good knowledge of details of the situation [in Georgia]; not only he reiterated support to Georgia’s territorial integrity, but [also demonstrated] that they [the U.S. authorities] are working on this issue and of course [Obama expressed] support towards the path, which will lead us to the NATO membership,” Saakashvili said.
'Georgien bleibt in Afghanistan bis die Mission vollendet ist' - 19.11.2010, Civil Georgia
President Saakashvili said on November 19 that Georgia would remain committed to the Afghan mission until it's accomplished.
Saakashvili made the remarks at a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, on a sideline of NATO summit in Lisbon.
“You know we are second biggest per capita contributors to Afghanistan in terms of numbers of troops. We have no caveats and we are fighting alongside the Americans, Canadians, with British and we are willing to stay there until the mission is accomplished,” he said.
Georgia has 950 troops in Afghanistan; five Georgian soldiers were killed in combat in two separate incidents in early and late September.
Saakashvili also said at the meeting with the Canadian PM: “We love Canada in Georgia, not only in Georgia, but in the whole region, and not only because it’s a great country but it has been paying great attention to our region. It has been outspoken in defence of values and it’s a great ally in Afghanistan."
Georgian State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Issues, Giorgi Baramidze, said that Canada "is an active supporter to Georgia's NATO integration." "These relations are very important for us," he said.
Meanwhile, Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister, Giga Bokeria, said on November 19, that Georgia was expecting that NATO summit in Lisbon would give a "firm" recommitment to its decision at the Bucharest summit in 2008 to eventual Georgian membership.
“We hope and we have a ground to hope that at this summit a very clear message will be made about future of Georgia’s NATO membership – that is a very firm reiteration of the NATO Bucharest summit decision; as you know there have been speculations on this issue and it is important to remove all the question marks about it,” Bokeria said.
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Krieg-2008, Sprache: deutsch, englisch, Archiv: #
Europa muss für Georgien aufstehen - Europe must stand up for Georgia - Open letter by Vaclav Havel and others
22.09.2009 | guardian | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
Offener Brief: Zwanzig Jahre nachdem halb Europa befreit wurde, wird eine neue Mauer gebaut – quer durch Georgien, sagen Vaclav Havel und andere. - 22. September 2009
Wie sich Europa an die Schande des Ribbentrop-Molotow-Pakts von 1939 und das Münchner Abkommen von 1938 erinnert, und wie es sich darauf vorbereitet, den Fall der Berliner Mauer und des Eisernen Vorhangs im Jahr 1989 zu feiern, stellt sich eine Frage in unseren Köpfen: Haben wir die Lehren aus der Geschichte gezogen? Anders ausgedrückt, sind wir in der Lage zu verhindern, die Fehler zu wiederholen, die solch einen dunklen Schatten über das 20. Jahrhundert warfen?
Die Ereignisse der Vergangenheit zu beklagen oder zu feiern, ist eine vergebliche Handelung, wenn wir gegenüber ihren Lehren blind bleiben. Nur wenn diese Ereignisse uns lehren, wie wir anders - und klüger - handeln, haben solche Gedenkfeiern irgendeinen Wert.
Betrachtet man heute Europa, so ist es mehr als klar, dass die Geschichte nicht zu einem Ende gekommen ist und tragisch bleibt. Zwanzig Jahre nach der Befreiung der Hälfte des europäischen Kontinents, wird eine neue Mauer in Europa gebaut - dieses Mal in das Hoheitsgebiet von Georgien.
Dies stellt eine große Herausforderung für die Bürgerinnen und Bürger, Institutionen und Regierungen in Europa dar. Sind wir bereit zu akzeptieren, dass die Grenzen eines kleinen Landes einseitig durch Gewalt verändert werden können? Sind wir bereit, die de-facto-Annexion fremder Gebiete durch eine größere Macht zu tolerieren?
Um für die bevorstehenden historischen Gedenkfeiern sinnstiftend zu sein, sowohl für die kollektive Identität in Europa und als auch für die Zukunft, mahnen wir die 27 demokratischen Staats- und Regierungschefs der EU, eine proaktive Strategie zu definieren, Georgien zu helfen, friedlich seine territoriale Integrität zurückzuerhalten und den Abzug der russischen Truppen zu erreichen, die illegal auf georgischem Boden stationiert sind.
Niemand will eine Konfrontation mit Moskau oder eine Rückkehr zu der feindseligen Atmosphäre des Kalten Krieges. Aber ebenso ist es wichtig, dass die EU und ihre Mitgliedstaaten eine klare und eindeutige Botschaft an die derzeitige Führung in Russland senden.
Da die Kommission, eingerichtet durch die Europäische Union und angeführt von Heidi Tagliavini, vorbereitet, ihren Bericht über die Ursachen des russisch-georgischen Krieges zu veröffentlichen, rufen wir alle Europäer auf, sich an die schmerzhaften Erfahrungen unserer jüngsten Vergangenheit zu erinnern.
Erstens, eine große Macht wird immer einen Vorwand finden oder konstruieren, um einen Nachbarn zu überfallen, an dessen Unabhängigkeit sich diese Macht stößt. Wir dürfen nicht vergessen, dass Hitler die Polen anklagte, die Feindseligkeiten in Jahr 1939 begonnen zu haben, so wie Stalin die Schuld den Finnen anhängte, als er fiel ihr Land im Jahre 1940 überfiel. Auch im Fall von Georgien und Russland, ist die kritische Frage, welches Land das andere überfiel, vielmehr als die Frage, welcher Soldat die erste Kugel abfeuerte.
Zweitens, das Versagen der westlichen Demokratien, auf die Zerstückelung einer befreundeten Nation zu reagieren, wenn auch eine kleine Nation, kann sehr ernste globale Folgen haben.
Die Europäische Union wurde gegen die Versuchung von München und den Eisernen Vorhang gebaut. Es wäre völlig fatal, wenn wir uns in irgendeiner Weise einstellen sollten, die Art von Praktiken stillschweigend zu dulden, welche unseren Kontinent in den Krieg und die Aufteilung für die meiste Zeit des letzten Jahrhunderts stürzten. At stake is nothing less than the fate of the project to which we continue to dedicate our lives: the peaceful and democratic reunification of the European continent. Auf dem Spiel steht nichts Geringeres als das Schicksal des Projekts, dem wir unser Leben fortwährend widmen: der friedlichen und demokratischen Wiedervereinigung des europäischen Kontinents.
Vaclav Havel, Valdas Adamkus, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, Otto de Habsbourg, Daniel Cohn Bendit, Timothy Garton Ash, André Glucksmann, Mark Leonard, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Adam Michnik, Josep Ramoneda Vaclav Havel, Valdas Adamkus, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, de Otto Habsburg, Daniel Cohn Bendit, Timothy Garton Ash, André Glucksmann, Mark Leonard, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Adam Michnik, Josep Ramoneda
Europe must stand up for Georgia - Open letter by Vaclav Havel and others
Open letter: Twenty years after half of Europe was freed, a new wall is being built – across Georgia, say Vaclav Havel and others:
As Europe remembers the shame of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact of 1939 and the Munich agreement of 1938, and as it prepares to celebrate the fall of the Berlin wall and the iron curtain in 1989, one question arises in our minds: Have we learned the lessons of history? Put another way, are we able to avoid repeating the mistakes that cast such a dark shadow over the 20th century?
To deplore or celebrate past events is a futile act if we remain blind to their lessons. Only if these events teach us how to act differently – and more wisely – do such commemorations have any value.
Looking at Europe today, it is abundantly clear that history has not come to an end and that it remains tragic. Twenty years after the emancipation of half of the continent, a new wall is being built in Europe – this time across the sovereign territory of Georgia.
This presents a major challenge for the citizens, institutions and governments of Europe. Are we willing to accept that the borders of a small country can be unilaterally changed by force? Are we willing to tolerate the de facto annexation of foreign territories by a larger power?
In order for the forthcoming historic commemorations to be meaningful both for Europe's collective identity and for its future, we urge the EU's 27 democratic leaders to define a proactive strategy to help Georgia peacefully regain its territorial integrity and obtain the withdrawal of Russian forces illegally stationed on Georgian soil.
Nobody wants a confrontation with Moscow or a return to the hostile atmosphere of the cold war. But, equally, it is essential that the EU and its member states send a clear and unequivocal message to the current leadership in Russia.
As the commission set up by the European Union and headed by Heidi Tagliavini prepares to publish its report on the causes of the Russian-Georgian war, we call on all Europeans to remember the painful lessons of our recent past.
First, a big power will always find or engineer a pretext to invade a neighbour whose independence it resents. We should remember that Hitler accused the Poles of commencing hostilities in 1939, just as Stalin pinned the blame on the Finns when he invaded their country in 1940. Similarly, in the case of Georgia and Russia, the critical question is to determine which country invaded the other, rather than which soldier shot the first bullet.
Second, the failure of western democracies to respond to the dismemberment of a friendly nation, albeit a small one, can have very serious global consequences.
The European Union was built against the temptation of Munich and the iron curtain. It would be utterly disastrous if we were to appear in any way to condone the kind of practices that plunged our continent into war and division for most of the last century. At stake is nothing less than the fate of the project to which we continue to dedicate our lives: the peaceful and democratic reunification of the European continent.
Vaclav Havel, Valdas Adamkus, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, Otto de Habsbourg, Daniel Cohn Bendit, Timothy Garton Ash, André Glucksmann, Mark Leonard, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Adam Michnik, Josep Ramoneda
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
Offener Brief: Zwanzig Jahre nachdem halb Europa befreit wurde, wird eine neue Mauer gebaut – quer durch Georgien, sagen Vaclav Havel und andere. - 22. September 2009
Wie sich Europa an die Schande des Ribbentrop-Molotow-Pakts von 1939 und das Münchner Abkommen von 1938 erinnert, und wie es sich darauf vorbereitet, den Fall der Berliner Mauer und des Eisernen Vorhangs im Jahr 1989 zu feiern, stellt sich eine Frage in unseren Köpfen: Haben wir die Lehren aus der Geschichte gezogen? Anders ausgedrückt, sind wir in der Lage zu verhindern, die Fehler zu wiederholen, die solch einen dunklen Schatten über das 20. Jahrhundert warfen?
Die Ereignisse der Vergangenheit zu beklagen oder zu feiern, ist eine vergebliche Handelung, wenn wir gegenüber ihren Lehren blind bleiben. Nur wenn diese Ereignisse uns lehren, wie wir anders - und klüger - handeln, haben solche Gedenkfeiern irgendeinen Wert.
Betrachtet man heute Europa, so ist es mehr als klar, dass die Geschichte nicht zu einem Ende gekommen ist und tragisch bleibt. Zwanzig Jahre nach der Befreiung der Hälfte des europäischen Kontinents, wird eine neue Mauer in Europa gebaut - dieses Mal in das Hoheitsgebiet von Georgien.
Dies stellt eine große Herausforderung für die Bürgerinnen und Bürger, Institutionen und Regierungen in Europa dar. Sind wir bereit zu akzeptieren, dass die Grenzen eines kleinen Landes einseitig durch Gewalt verändert werden können? Sind wir bereit, die de-facto-Annexion fremder Gebiete durch eine größere Macht zu tolerieren?
Um für die bevorstehenden historischen Gedenkfeiern sinnstiftend zu sein, sowohl für die kollektive Identität in Europa und als auch für die Zukunft, mahnen wir die 27 demokratischen Staats- und Regierungschefs der EU, eine proaktive Strategie zu definieren, Georgien zu helfen, friedlich seine territoriale Integrität zurückzuerhalten und den Abzug der russischen Truppen zu erreichen, die illegal auf georgischem Boden stationiert sind.
Niemand will eine Konfrontation mit Moskau oder eine Rückkehr zu der feindseligen Atmosphäre des Kalten Krieges. Aber ebenso ist es wichtig, dass die EU und ihre Mitgliedstaaten eine klare und eindeutige Botschaft an die derzeitige Führung in Russland senden.
Da die Kommission, eingerichtet durch die Europäische Union und angeführt von Heidi Tagliavini, vorbereitet, ihren Bericht über die Ursachen des russisch-georgischen Krieges zu veröffentlichen, rufen wir alle Europäer auf, sich an die schmerzhaften Erfahrungen unserer jüngsten Vergangenheit zu erinnern.
Erstens, eine große Macht wird immer einen Vorwand finden oder konstruieren, um einen Nachbarn zu überfallen, an dessen Unabhängigkeit sich diese Macht stößt. Wir dürfen nicht vergessen, dass Hitler die Polen anklagte, die Feindseligkeiten in Jahr 1939 begonnen zu haben, so wie Stalin die Schuld den Finnen anhängte, als er fiel ihr Land im Jahre 1940 überfiel. Auch im Fall von Georgien und Russland, ist die kritische Frage, welches Land das andere überfiel, vielmehr als die Frage, welcher Soldat die erste Kugel abfeuerte.
Zweitens, das Versagen der westlichen Demokratien, auf die Zerstückelung einer befreundeten Nation zu reagieren, wenn auch eine kleine Nation, kann sehr ernste globale Folgen haben.
Die Europäische Union wurde gegen die Versuchung von München und den Eisernen Vorhang gebaut. Es wäre völlig fatal, wenn wir uns in irgendeiner Weise einstellen sollten, die Art von Praktiken stillschweigend zu dulden, welche unseren Kontinent in den Krieg und die Aufteilung für die meiste Zeit des letzten Jahrhunderts stürzten. At stake is nothing less than the fate of the project to which we continue to dedicate our lives: the peaceful and democratic reunification of the European continent. Auf dem Spiel steht nichts Geringeres als das Schicksal des Projekts, dem wir unser Leben fortwährend widmen: der friedlichen und demokratischen Wiedervereinigung des europäischen Kontinents.
Vaclav Havel, Valdas Adamkus, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, Otto de Habsbourg, Daniel Cohn Bendit, Timothy Garton Ash, André Glucksmann, Mark Leonard, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Adam Michnik, Josep Ramoneda Vaclav Havel, Valdas Adamkus, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, de Otto Habsburg, Daniel Cohn Bendit, Timothy Garton Ash, André Glucksmann, Mark Leonard, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Adam Michnik, Josep Ramoneda
Europe must stand up for Georgia - Open letter by Vaclav Havel and others
Open letter: Twenty years after half of Europe was freed, a new wall is being built – across Georgia, say Vaclav Havel and others:
As Europe remembers the shame of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact of 1939 and the Munich agreement of 1938, and as it prepares to celebrate the fall of the Berlin wall and the iron curtain in 1989, one question arises in our minds: Have we learned the lessons of history? Put another way, are we able to avoid repeating the mistakes that cast such a dark shadow over the 20th century?
To deplore or celebrate past events is a futile act if we remain blind to their lessons. Only if these events teach us how to act differently – and more wisely – do such commemorations have any value.
Looking at Europe today, it is abundantly clear that history has not come to an end and that it remains tragic. Twenty years after the emancipation of half of the continent, a new wall is being built in Europe – this time across the sovereign territory of Georgia.
This presents a major challenge for the citizens, institutions and governments of Europe. Are we willing to accept that the borders of a small country can be unilaterally changed by force? Are we willing to tolerate the de facto annexation of foreign territories by a larger power?
In order for the forthcoming historic commemorations to be meaningful both for Europe's collective identity and for its future, we urge the EU's 27 democratic leaders to define a proactive strategy to help Georgia peacefully regain its territorial integrity and obtain the withdrawal of Russian forces illegally stationed on Georgian soil.
Nobody wants a confrontation with Moscow or a return to the hostile atmosphere of the cold war. But, equally, it is essential that the EU and its member states send a clear and unequivocal message to the current leadership in Russia.
As the commission set up by the European Union and headed by Heidi Tagliavini prepares to publish its report on the causes of the Russian-Georgian war, we call on all Europeans to remember the painful lessons of our recent past.
First, a big power will always find or engineer a pretext to invade a neighbour whose independence it resents. We should remember that Hitler accused the Poles of commencing hostilities in 1939, just as Stalin pinned the blame on the Finns when he invaded their country in 1940. Similarly, in the case of Georgia and Russia, the critical question is to determine which country invaded the other, rather than which soldier shot the first bullet.
Second, the failure of western democracies to respond to the dismemberment of a friendly nation, albeit a small one, can have very serious global consequences.
The European Union was built against the temptation of Munich and the iron curtain. It would be utterly disastrous if we were to appear in any way to condone the kind of practices that plunged our continent into war and division for most of the last century. At stake is nothing less than the fate of the project to which we continue to dedicate our lives: the peaceful and democratic reunification of the European continent.
Vaclav Havel, Valdas Adamkus, Mart Laar, Vytautas Landsbergis, Otto de Habsbourg, Daniel Cohn Bendit, Timothy Garton Ash, André Glucksmann, Mark Leonard, Bernard-Henri Lévy, Adam Michnik, Josep Ramoneda
Stichworte: Georgien, Abchasien, Süd-Ossetien, Russland, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #
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