Posted on 08/09/2008 8:07:19 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Russia will consider ceasefire and withdrawal of forces only after Georgia returns to pre-clashes status-quo and pulls its troops from “occupied” areas of South Ossetia, Vitaly Churkin, the Russia’s UN ambassador, said.
But he also stressed that return to status-quo should no way apply to the Russian forces currently fighting with the Georgian troops in the region.
“There must not be any illusions about that,” Churkin said. “In order to consider withdrawal of our forces we must make sure that there is no chance of genocide there.”
He was speaking after an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council – the third one in last few days. The Council has again failed to reach an agreement on the wording of an appeal for an end to the hostilities.
“There is a straightforward way to stop fighting, to stop killing: for Georgians to withdraw and then to have an agreement on non-use of force signed and then we can talk on other verity things, including [on] military and political arrangements,” Churkin said.
President Bush has also called for returning to the August 6 status-quo, but said it should be done by the both sides.
President Saakashvili said Tbilisi was ready to demilitarize the region if the Russian troops pulled out; international forces should fill the vacuum, he added.
The Russia’s UN ambassador said that the Russian forces in South Ossetia were engaged in “peacekeeping operation.”
He justified Russia’s air strikes outside South Ossetia by the need to undermine “certain Georgian military activity, which is supported from outside of South Ossetia.”
Scores of civilians were reportedly killed after the Russian warplanes dropped bombs in the town of Gori, close to the South Ossetian conflict zone. Port of Poti, military base in Senaki, airfields in Marneuli and Kopitnari were also targeted.
“We are not targeting any civilians. If there are any civilian casualties – that you can not rule out – this is of course deeply regrettable,” the Russian diplomat said. “There have been some reports of bombings outside the territory of South Ossetia and if there were some, they were in the context of support of peacemaking operation [in South Ossetia].”
Related
Bush-Medvedev Discuss Russo-Georgia Conflict
Putin: Georgia’s S.Ossetia Move Blow to its Statehood
Saakashvili Calls on Russia for Ceasefire and Talks
So this is basically a reset or a surrender?
Not sure about the timing...where is the US Media?
Where is the media..?
Beijing and Hawaii
i doubt if russia is going to pull out,
as president bush wanted.
Russian ceasefire refusal dims UN hopes for peace
AP Published: August 10, 2008
************************EXCERPT**************************
UNITED NATIONS: Russia refused to agree to a cease-fire or a diplomatic agreement with Georgia on Saturday, ensuring that fighting over the breakaway South Ossetia region would keep spilling over to areas such as Abkhazia's Kodori Ridge, where 15 U.N. military observers were told to evacuate.
The diplomatic standoff continued Saturday i
So how many more resolutions and angry letters will the UN produce now?
<***********************EXCERPT***************
Outside U.N. headquarters, hundreds of Georgians protested into the evening, shouting "Russia out of Georgia," and carrying flags and signs with such messages as "Stop Russian Aggression" and "Georgia Without Russia."
I’m not sure why Georgia should want a ceasefire considering Russia is bombing their own supporters and infrastructure they claim is theirs?
Russia is stalling...see #6...
And where are our people? Are they out?
where are the europeans in this???
Dammmm them..I hope we don’t bail them out...Germany, France, etc —if they have problems down the line with russia.
why aren’t they insisting that russia pull out its troops, quit bombing Georgia, and allow international troops to go in as georgia has agreed to!
I can hardly wait for the UN to help with this peace keeping.Or maybe we can send Obama over there to “talk about change.”
Bump
Cowering in Bejing...scared to death of the Russian Bear.
And then you vill turn over nogoodniks Moose and Squirrel!
Now I realize that the area in question is a “break away” province and all that. But is it not still Georgian territory? How can Russia demand that Georgia stay of out..well...Georgia?
I would, if I were China, be arguing to get Russia out of Georgia. This is setting precedent for Taiwan to break away permanently. This could really muddle the Chinese situation. This shall be interesting to see play out.
that is an interesting question...my guess is officially they are out , yet some are still there cause they had been doing training of Georgians for some time now.
russia refuses to let international troops in..and Georgia was ok with that as condition of the ceasefire. Bush wanted Georgia....to go ( along with russia) back to the status quo of august 6th. but russia would not agree to that. Georgia said ok, IF they could bring in international troops. Russia is stalling and meanwhile bombing Georgia to break them down.
fyi
Georgia is screwed.
-- Senator John McCain
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