BREAKING: Passage of Georgia Resolution Dependent on Russia, Khalilzad Says

Listen to Audio Report as Security Council Reports on Georgia Russia Violence (3:01)



- Georgia called for the Security Council to take the situation very seriously, recalling the failed League of Nations should the Security Council fail to act
- France, president of the European Union, reiterated Europe’s solidarity with Georgia, and called for an immediate stop to violence
- France called for territorial respect and attention to Georgia’s sovereignty
- However, France stated repeatedly that the Security Council does not “act in a vacuum”
- France repeatedly called for diplomacy and reiterated that the Security Council is “not a place for conflict”
- Khalilzad, US ambassador to the UN, stated that the Security Council asked fundamental questions to Russia: intent to target civilians, intent to target Georgian president, intent to overthrow Georgia- As of yesterday, Khalilzad said, Russia had no reply
- Khalilzad stated that attacks have intensified and spread
- Khalilzad stated that the longer the attacks persist, the more damage done to US/Russia relations
- A resolution has been drafted, and according to Khalizad it’s passage is entirely dependent on Russia
- US does not want to damage relations with Russia, but “we cannot be indifferent to the brutality of these attacks”
- Khalilzad continued, “we are united in our objective that Georgia must be restored”
- Russian Ambassador stated that two two states will love together as two sovereign entities, but questioned Georgia’s ability to live with the breakaway province of South Ossetia
- Churkin “US Russia relations are not our responsibility”
- Russia denied targeting Georgian President
- At this time, Russia has refused to pull troops out from Georgia

 

 Dan Patterson Reports from UN Security Council on Russia Georgia: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download