Georgia reaffirms peace commitment on 5th anniv. of Russia-Georgia War

In this season of numerous Independence Day anniversaries, Georgia is reminded of the Russia-Georgia August 2008 War, which broke out 5 years ago on August 7. On this day, Russia invaded Georgia with a large-scale military operation and has since been occupying Georgia’s South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions, which makes up 20% of Georgia’s territory.

The signing of the Six-point Ceasefire Agreement on 12 August 2008, which stated that Russia should withdraw its forces to their pre-war positions, has not been upheld. On this anniversary occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has released a statement to raise awareness about the conflict of Russian-Georgia 5 years ago, the unsolved situation, and its future goals to resolve the existing conflict through negotiations.

The statement says, “Russian armed forces still continue the effective occupation of 20 percent of Georgia’s territory in flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law, and deprive hundreds of thousands of victims of several waves of ethnic cleansing, including that of 2008, of their internationally recognized right to safe, dignified and voluntary return.”  Instead of withdrawing from the regions, Russia has continued to increase its control and heavy military presence in these areas.

The statement also explains Georgia’s efforts to maintain cordial relations with Russia despite Russia’s occupation of the two regions. “In an effort to create conditions conducive to the de-escalation of tensions with Moscow, Georgia has undertaken a number of concrete, substantial initiatives: Tbilisi undertook an unilateral legally binding pledge not to use force to solve the conflict, removed barriers for Russia’s membership in WTO, unilaterally abolished the visa requirements for citizens of the Russian Federation, refused to boycott the Sochi Olympic Games 2014, stated readiness for cooperation to ensure security of the Sochi Olympics and nominated a Special Representative on the Relations with the Russian Federation, reaffirming the political will and readiness to resume trade, economic, humanitarian and cultural relations with Russia, ” it states.

Georgia also expressed its gratitude to partners who remained in the country during or after the war in 2008 despite the nation’s shaken security and stability. The statement gave special thanks to “the EU and its Member-States that contribute personnel to the European Union Monitoring Mission – the only viable international mechanism currently operating on the territory of Georgia and an essential guarantor of its security and stability.”

Lastly, the Georgia government reaffirmed its strong commitment to building an independent and democratic state as the best way to a prosperous and reunited Georgia. The full statement can be read here.