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STORY: UN / GEORGIA
TRT: 06:10
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 14 AUGUST 2024, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, United Nations Headquarters
2. Pan left, ambassadors walk in
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Francesca Gatt, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations:
“Sixteen years have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression against and subsequent illegal military presence in Georgia’s sovereign territories – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia regions. The Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 marked a more aggressive trend in Russia’s policy regarding its neighboring countries and European security architecture. As we all are witnessing today with the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, Russia has continued down this path. We are resolute in our reaffirmation of Georgia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its international recognized borders. We deplore the continuous blatant violation of territorial integrity of Georgia by the Russian Federation. We condemn Russia's brutal invasion and continues illegal military presence, in contravention of the UN Charter and exercising of effective control over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, South Ossetia. These regions are integral parts of Georgia and Russia steps towards annexation of these Georgian regions through incorporating both regions into its political, military, judicial, economic and social spheres, including signing of integration treaties, transferring the strategically important Bichvinta resort, the Sukhumi Airport and Ochamchire port to the Russian Federation, conducting illegal, so-called “elections,” including Russian presidential elections in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia regions in March, 2024 and parliamentary elections in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia region in June, 2024. We reiterate our condemnation of Russia's continuous provocations; the continued military drills in Georgia's territory, territorial sea and air space; the steps towards establishment of a permanent naval base in Ochamchire, Abkhazia region, that poses significant threat to the security of Georgia and the wider Black Sea region; the enhanced process of erecting barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers, dividing Georgia's internal regions; unlawful detentions and abductions of the local population; interference with freedom of movement and persistent closures of so-called “crossing points,” discrimination against ethnic Georgians and prohibition of education and residents’ native language, and delivered damage to Georgian cultural heritage. We condemn the killings of Georgian citizens. David Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili, Tamaz Ginturi and Vitaliy Karbaia. As well as death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia in the Russian military base in Abkhazia region whose perpetrators have not yet been brought to justice and held accountable.”
4. Close-up, reporter writing in a notepad
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Francesca Gatt, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations:
“Today, we call once again, on the Russian Federation to fully implement its obligations and commitments under the EU Mediated Ceasefire Agreement of 12th, August 2008, and withdraw its military and security forces from the territory of Georgia without delay. We reiterate our 16 years old call to Russia to reverse the recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia's regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, Southern Ossetia, not to impede the creation of international security mechanisms and to allow access of international human rights and humanitarian organizations to both regions. Thank you.”
6. Pan right, ambassadors walk away
6. Wide shot, ambassador walking in
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dmitry Polyansky, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Russian Federation:
“First of all, of course every year we are very much surprised by the maniacal desire of our Western colleagues to discuss the issue of Saakashvili aggression against South Ossetia in 2008. And given the fact that are being discovered and given the position of Georgian authorities this is resembling more and more the masochistic exercise. I will not comment more I will just with your permission quote the statement of political council of the ruling Georgian party, Georgian dream, democratic Georgia. This is direct quote. So, the quote is, “The major part of Georgian society is rightfully questioning adequacy of Saakashvili, but the fact is that in August 2008 the adventurous activities of Saakashvili were result of not only his psychic instability, but also instructions from outside and well planned treason. To establish long term peace and stability in our country, it is vitally important for us to organize public legal trial for our society to learn once and for all who committed this treacherous crime against our country and our people.” Just try to recall these words when our Western colleagues will come later to this rostrum and will lie to you about what happened at this moment.”
8. Wide shot, ambassador walks away.
A group of Member States from the Security Council, France, Japan, Slovenia, United Kingdom, United States, Malta and incoming Security Council members Greece and Denmark, reaffirmed Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
The Security Council members today (14 Aug) held a meeting behind the closed doors on the situation in Georgia.
After the meeting, reading a joint statement from the group of ambassadors outside the Security Council, Francesca Gatt, Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations said, “sixteen years have passed since Russia’s full-scale military aggression against and subsequent illegal military presence in Georgia’s sovereign territories – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia regions. The Russian invasion of Georgia in August 2008 marked a more aggressive trend in Russia’s policy regarding its neighboring countries and European security architecture. As we all are witnessing today with the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, Russia has continued down this path. We are resolute in our reaffirmation of Georgia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its international recognized borders. We deplore the continuous blatant violation of territorial integrity of Georgia by the Russian Federation. We condemn Russia's brutal invasion and continues illegal military presence, in contravention of the UN Charter and exercising of effective control over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, South Ossetia. These regions are integral parts of Georgia and Russia steps towards annexation of these Georgian regions through incorporating both regions into its political, military, judicial, economic and social spheres, including signing of integration treaties, transferring the strategically important Bichvinta resort, the Sukhumi Airport and Ochamchire port to the Russian Federation, conducting illegal, so-called “elections,” including Russian presidential elections in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia regions in March, 2024 and parliamentary elections in Tskhinvali, South Ossetia region in June, 2024. We reiterate our condemnation of Russia's continuous provocations; the continued military drills in Georgia's territory, territorial sea and air space; the steps towards establishment of a permanent naval base in Ochamchire, Abkhazia region, that poses significant threat to the security of Georgia and the wider Black Sea region; the enhanced process of erecting barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers, dividing Georgia's internal regions; unlawful detentions and abductions of the local population; interference with freedom of movement and persistent closures of so-called “crossing points,” discrimination against ethnic Georgians and prohibition of education and residents’ native language, and delivered damage to Georgian cultural heritage. We condemn the killings of Georgian citizens. David Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili, Tamaz Ginturi and Vitaliy Karbaia. As well as death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia in the Russian military base in Abkhazia region whose perpetrators have not yet been brought to justice and held accountable."
She added, “today, we call once again, on the Russian Federation to fully implement its obligations and commitments under the EU Mediated Ceasefire Agreement of 12th, August 2008, and withdraw its military and security forces from the territory of Georgia without delay. We reiterate our 16 years old call to Russia to reverse the recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia's regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, Southern Ossetia, not to impede the creation of international security mechanisms and to allow access of international human rights and humanitarian organizations to both regions. Thank you.”
Earlier Dmitry Polyansky, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Russian Federation commented to journalists, saying, “every year we are very much surprised by the maniacal desire of our Western colleagues to discuss the issue of Saakashvili aggression against South Ossetia in 2008. And given the fact that are being discovered and given the position of Georgian authorities this is resembling more and more the masochistic exercise.”
He added, “I will not comment more I will just with your permission quote the statement of political council of the ruling Georgian party, Georgian dream, democratic Georgia. This is direct quote. So, the quote is, 'the major part of Georgian society is rightfully questioning adequacy of Saakashvili, but the fact is that in August 2008 the adventurous activities of Saakashvili were result of not only his psychic instability, but also instructions from outside and well-planned treason. To establish long term peace and stability in our country, it is vitally important for us to organize public legal trial for our society to learn once and for all who committed this treacherous crime against our country and our people.' Just try to recall these words when our Western colleagues will come later to this rostrum and will lie to you about what happened at this moment.”
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