APPEAL OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA to the International Community, International Organizations and Parliaments of Partner Countries

On July 10^th 2008, the authorities of the Russian Federation officially admitted to the fact of military aggression against Georgia, performed through the violation of the Georgian airspace by 4 Russian military aircrafts belonging to the Air Forces of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

Through the unprecedented admission to the fact of aggression, the authorities of the Russian Federation attempt to demonstrate to the international community that they entitle themselves, ignoring the universally acknowledged international norms and on their own will,  to wage military operations and create explosive situation in the entire region.

It is a cause of deep concern that this is not a single isolated incident but, the continuation of series of provocations against sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, resorted to by Russia throughout these last months, namely:

Through the withdrawal on March 6^th 2008 from the CIS’s Council of Heads decision of January 19^th 1996, Russia unilaterally rejected the restrictive regime of military cooperation with the separatist administrations and restriction of illegal military presence in the conflict regions.

By the decision of the President of Russia of April 16^th 2008 , Russia in fact  ignored territorial integrity of Georgia and created the possibility of establishing direct legal, political and economic links with the separatist regimes without the consent of the Georgian authorities.

On April 20^th 2008 the fighter of the Russian Ministry of Defense violated the Georgian airspace, performed military aggression and shot down unmanned plane belonging to the Ministry of Interior of Georgia. The fact was confirmed by the OSCE and the UN and widely condemned by the international community.

The authorities of the Russian Federation deployed it’s regular military units of the Ministry of Defense, the so called “railway forces”, and constructed military infrastructure on the territory of Georgia (in Abkhazia), thus had violated the international norms, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. 

Russia deployed in the conflict zone the paratroopers, brought in heavy military equipments and other armament which are not provided for by the peacekeeping mandate.

Russian armed forces openly support and assist illegal armed formations of the separatist regimes, therefore actually supporting terrorism on the territory of Georgia.

It is obvious that actions of the Russian Federation obstruct restoration of trust between Georgians and Abkhazians, Georgians and Ossetians and impede the process of peaceful settlement of disputes, therefore even further escalating the conflicts and endangering the stability of the entire region.

The act of military aggression by the Russian Federation which took place on 8 July 2008, through the violation of the Georgian airspace confirms once again that the Russian Federation acts as a party to the conflict and has no will and ability to guarantee the peaceful settlement of disputes.  

Admission to the above mentioned act of aggression by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia is not just an open recognition of an ongoing annexation and military occupation of the two regions of Georgia, but an overt attempt to launch military operations.

The Parliament of Georgia once again confirms the necessity of peaceful settlement of conflicts and addresses to the international community, international organizations and parliaments of partner countries:

To strongly condemn the aggressive acts carried out by the Russian Federation;

To support the peaceful initiative of Georgia that provides for the modification of the existing peaceful formats and the substitution of the so called peaceful contingents with international police forces. Otherwise, the Georgian side will be compelled to undertake adequate legal measures with an aim of delegitimization and speedy withdrawal of the Russian armed forces from the conflict zones in the nearest future.

To undertake relevant political and international legal measures, in order to stop provocative actions of the Russian Federation and to create timely and effective mechanism for halting the direct military aggression of the Russian Federation against Georgia.

11 July, 2008.

(www.parliament.ge)