979th meeting – 8 and 9 November 2006

Item 2.1b

Current political questions

b.         Draft Committee of Ministers’ Declaration on the “referendum” planned in the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, on 12 November 2006

The Representative of Georgia made the following statement:

“Yesterday’s discussion demonstrated the clear support of 45 delegations representing the Council of Europe member states for the Georgian proposal to adopt a statement on the “referendum” and “presidential elections” planned in Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, on 12 November 2006. I would like to thank you all for the mutual understanding, the willingness to speak with one voice and the efforts made to find a common solution to problems.

It is obvious that a unilateral movement for independence in Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, is not supported by any international organisation. We witness continuing efforts made under the auspices of the OSCE and the UN to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. We think that the stagnated peace process in Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, needs to be re‑launched, and an enhanced and combined effort by the European Union and the OSCE will bring the parties back to the negotiating table. And again, we have to thank all our European partners.

Yesterday's discussion also demonstrated why the Government and Parliament of Georgia have questioned the existing format of the negotiating process for Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, the composition of the peacekeeping forces and the mechanisms of the peacekeeping operations stemming from the ceasefire agreement of 1992.

There is no way to describe the attitude expressed by the Russian delegation yesterday other than obstructive. Negotiating formats in which the Russian Federation is represented as one of the major mediators in the peace process aimed at solving conflicts in Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgia, have been ineffective due to a similar pattern of behaviour.

Over the years, the Russian Federation has undermined its credibility as an honest broker in the conflicts. Everyone is aware that the Russian Federation has furthermore complicated the process of peaceful conflict resolution by issuing passports to the residents of conflict zones of Georgia (for detailed information please refer to document DD(2006)533 – the non-paper “Basic principles for resolution of conflicts on the territory of Georgia” distributed to all delegations and the Secretariat).

A Russian Deputy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently said “Russia does not want to be provoked; Russia wants to be respected”, adding that Russia’s policies in Georgia would not change until Russia felt it got the respect it deserved. Until then, Moscow will continue trying to strangle Georgia – endorsing separatist regions in its territory, banning imports, cutting energy supplies and threatening with military strikes.

In the statement I made at our 972nd meeting, I informed you that Mr Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in his interview to “Ekho Moskvy” did not exclude the use of military force against Georgia under the pretext of protecting the interests of the citizens of Russia. ln the same statement, I quoted Mr Sergei Ivanov, Vice-Premier and Defence Minister of the Russian Federation stating “At ongoing manoeuvres [in the vicinity of the Georgian border, involving subunits of Army 58 of the North Caucasus military district] under the codename Caucasus Boundary, the Russian servicemen are working on the issue of rendering assistance to peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in case of aggravation of situation in these regions of Georgia”.

Russia claims to seek respect, but its behaviour is based not on earning respect but on instilling fear. Both ministers had made their statements before the plans to have the “referendum” and “presidential elections” in Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, were announced. Both statements encouraged the decision of the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia, to hold the “referendum” and “presidential elections”.

The position taken by the Russian Federation with regard to the Committee of Ministers’ possible statement casts a light also on the issue of sanctions imposed by the Russian Federation on Georgia, and facts of bigotry and xenophobia against ethnic Georgians residing on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The Russian Federation has to accept the realities which emerged after the end of the Cold War and to abandon outdated thinking about exclusive zones of influence. At the same time, neutral, effective and impartial peacekeeping operations are essential for resolving territorial conflicts in Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

We still hope that the Russian Federation, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, will withhold support from all movements aimed at establishing independence in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

We remain committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and call upon the de facto authorities to act responsibly by refraining from unilateral steps which serve to exacerbate the situation and may degenerate into violence.”