South Ossetia

September 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "I welcome the results of today's emergency summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. The EU made clear, as I have repeatedly insisted, that Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected, that Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states must be rejected, that the six-point peace plan of August 12 must be implemented in its entirety, and that Georgia must be given substantial humanitarian and economic assistance.    » read more »

August 26, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "I condemn Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and call upon all countries of the world not to accord any legitimacy to this action.

"The United States should call for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia's decision in coordination with our European allies. The U.S. should lead within the UN and other international forums to cast a clear and unrelenting light on the decision, and to further isolate Russia internationally because of its actions. The OSCE must also send a serious monitoring group to Georgia.    » read more »

United Nations -- 27 August 2008 -- Russia's U.N. envoy has defended his government's decision to recognize two breakaway Georgian provinces, saying Tblisi's attack on South Ossetia earlier this month canceled existing U.N. resolutions that assure Georgia's territorial integrity and created a "new reality".

Reading a statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said his government has recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the face of an "aggressive, chauvinistic policy pursued by Tblisi."

He said Russia showed great patience in waiting this long to recognize the two breakaway regions and its decision to do so was unanimous in the Russian parliament.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2008 – President Bush condemned what he called Russia’s “irresponsible decision” today to recognize the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

“Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations,” Bush, in Crawford, Texas, said in a statement.

The president’s response comes after a reported announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Moscow intends to formally recognize the two breakaway provinces in Georgia, where Russia continues to maintain troops in defiance of a cease-fire agreement and mounting international pressure to withdrawal.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) today issued this statement following the President’s remarks regarding the conflict in Georgia:

“This morning, President Bush expressed strong support for international efforts to broker a ceasefire in Georgia and affirmed the United States’ commitment to Georgia’s people and democratic government. I applaud the President’s statement, but I believe he must make these points directly to Russia’s leaders. There is no indication that he has done so since leaving Beijing.    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- "I welcome President Bush's decision to send aid to the people of Georgia, and Americans stand united in support of the men and women who will carry out this humanitarian mission. As soon as possible, we must follow this aid with broader reconstruction assistance, including emergency economic loans, to help the people of Georgia rebuild their lives and their economy.    » read more »

Aug 14, 2008 -- TBILISI, Georgia — A C-17 Globemaster departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport, Aug. 13, 2008, delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the Republic of Georgia.

A Georgian official receives pallets of US humanitarian aid during South Ossetia crisis: Department of Defense photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Scott Wagers    » read more »

August 13, 2008 -- MS. PERINO: Good afternoon. You heard from the President just about an hour ago. The President and his national security team are obviously very concerned about the state of Georgia and have been working intensively with our international allies to secure a cease-fire and to provide humanitarian aid to those in need.

The first of the C-17 planes that the President mentioned in his statement has now arrived in Tbilisi and will be providing humanitarian aid and medical supplies. And another C-17 will arrive in Tbilisi tomorrow with additional supplies.

The President has asked Secretary Rice to travel to Tbilisi, Georgia. She will leave this evening. She will first travel to France for meetings there, before traveling on to Georgia.    » read more »

Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations

August 13, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

Outgoing president George W. Bush delivers a statement on Georgia: Flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Aug. 13, 2008. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian    » read more »

Washington -- 13 August 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush has announced a massive humanitarian effort in Georgia that would involve American aircraft and naval forces. Analysts say the United States and the West have very little leverage to force Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgia.

Last week Tbilisi sent troops in an effort to take control of the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russia, which had troops based in the area, responded by sending additional manpower, tanks and armored personnel carriers and going on the offensive.

Marshall Goldman is with Harvard University.    » read more »

14 August 2008 -- Georgian officials say Russian forces have begun to pull out of the key Georgian city of Gori, where their continued presence raised fears that Russia would not abide by a French-brokered cease-fire agreement.

Georgia's Interior Ministry also says Georgian police have begun to move into the city just outside the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and along Georgia's main east-west highway.

Much of Gori's population fled just after the fighting between Georgian and Russian troops broke out one week ago. Those who stayed say the city was looted by Russian troops and paramilitaries.

They also complained of kidnappings and murders, but Russian commander Major-General Alexander Borisov told Georgian television Russian troops never entered Gori.    » read more »

August 11, 2008 -- "Good morning. The situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate because of the escalation of Russia's use of military force. I have spoken to President Saakashvili, and conveyed my deep regret over the loss of life, and the suffering of the people of Georgia.

For many months, I have warned that there needs to be active international engagement to peacefully address the disputes over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including a high-level and neutral international mediator, and a genuine international peacekeeping force - not simply Russian troops.    » read more »

August 09, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "I just spoke separately with Secretary Rice and President Saakashvili about the grave crisis in Georgia. I told President Saakashvili that I was deeply concerned about the well-being of the people of Georgia.    » read more »

Java, August 13, 2008 – Human Rights Watch researchers in South Ossetia on August 12, 2008, saw ethnic Georgian villages still burning from fires set by South Ossetian militias, witnessed looting by the militias, and learned firsthand of the plight of ethnic Ossetian villagers who had fled Georgian soldiers during the Georgian-Russian conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.    » read more »