On the 15th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, the Group of Friends of Georgia in OSCE issued a joint statement
On the 15th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, the current situation on the Georgian territories occupied by Russia and the Russia-Georgia conflict were discussed at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, on September 8, 2023.
At the meeting, the Group of Friends of Georgia (GoF) in OSCE, traditionally, issued a statement in support of Georgia. In the joint statement made on behalf of Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States, The GoF reaffirms its full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
The GoF condemns Russia’s military aggression against Georgia in 2008 and expresses its concern over the occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions by the Russian Federation.
In its statement, the GoF also notes the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The joint statement emphasizes the necessity of a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict based on full respect for international law.
The GoF calls upon Russia to fulfil immediately its clear obligation under the ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, as well as its commitments to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and not to impede creation of international security arrangements on the ground, also to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions and to ensure safe and dignified return of all IDPs and refugees to their homes in a manner consistent with applicable international law.
The GoF states encourage the OSCE participating States to reopen the OSCE cross-dimensional mission in Georgia.
At the meeting, a statement of support on the part of the EU (joined by North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Andorra and San Marino) was issued as well where the Participating States condemned the violation of the obligations undertaken under the international law and the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement.
National statements were also made by the delegations of Ukraine, Turkey and Moldova.