UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meetings on Georgia Violence

The United Nations is reporting that thousands of Georgian refugees are fleeing the area known as South Ossetia.  According to the UN, over two dozen people have been killed, and close to a thousand people have been forced to leave their homes.

The United Nations Security Council responded to the rapidly-changing situation in Georgia late last night.  The Council held emergency deliberations in response to Georgian aggression on Russian military convoys in the territory known as South Ossetia.  The Security Council created a draft statement, but it has as of yet not been adopted.

Georgia has expressed a strong independent spirit for more than two decades.  Fighting between Russian and Georgia broke out in 1991 over territorial disputes, and was sustained for 18 months.  A tentative cease-fire held until 2004, and intermittent periods of violence have flared up ever since.  The recent violence stems from claims by Georgia that a Russian tank convoy rolled through the Ossetia region, violating Georgia’s sovereignty.  Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has called the Georgia’s attacks as a “deep violation of international law.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern about the violence.  According to the Spokesperson For the Secretary-General, the SG is currently being briefed on the situation in full.  Both Barack Obama and John McCain have called for the Russians to use restraint.  The Security Council will resume talks about Georgia this afternoon.

Listen to the Spokesperson For the Secretary-General Briefing on Georgia. (1:43)

 

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