German Chancellor on violation of agreement by Russia

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor once again requests Russia to follow the agreement. ‘Russia failed to fulfill terms of the agreement about withdrawal of militia. Russian army has to leave Georgia immediately,” she stated.

According to the statement of chancellor, if Russia keeps on violating the agreement, Germany will seriously consider revision of its relations with Russia. “According to our information, the Kremlin has not fully withdrawn the army. In this situation we cannot maintain normal relations,” Merkel underlined.

During the press briefing with journalists, Merkel stated that Ukraine and Georgia would definitely become members of the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Georgian governmental session held in Gori

A session of the Georgian Government was held in Georgia’s Gori town earlier this afternoon. Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili headed up the session. Possible means for rehabilitation of the city’s infrastructure and aid to the population were discussed during the session.

Saakashvili surveyed the bombed buildings, which were severely damaged as a result of the recent Georgian-Russian warfare. President will gave heads of various departments different tasks in accordance of their spheres.

Dick Cheney to arrive in Georgia War Zone

The US President George W. Bush is dispatching Vice President Dick Cheney to Georgia, setting up a high-ranking diplomatic mission to an ally reeling from a short, intense war, the Associated Press reported.

The White House announced Monday that Cheney will head abroad on Sept. 2 for stops in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Italy. The vice president’s office described Cheney’s trip only in the broadest terms, saying Bush wants his No. 2 to consult with key partners on matters of mutual interest.

OSCE High Commissioner issues statement on protection of minorities and citizens abroad

THE HAGUE, 25 August 2008 – The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), Knut Vollebaek, issued the following statement today:

“During the current conflict between Russia and Georgia a number of statements have been made by several leaders of OSCE participating States in connection with the rights of States to protect their citizens and, in particular, national minorities residing abroad. The tendency to make reference to the need to protect national minorities abroad as a reason for certain policy choices is of profound concern to me because of its implications for relations between States. I would therefore like to draw attention to the existing international norms and principles on this matter.

PACE President calls for immediate and total withdrawal of Russian troops

Strasbourg, 25.08.2008 – Lluís Maria de Puig, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), today urged Russia to respect fully its commitments under the cease-fire agreement brokered by French President Sarkozy to end the conflict which recently erupted in Georgia.

“This includes the immediate and total withdrawal of Russia’s troops from Georgia to positions before the outbreak of the hostilities”, said PACE President. “The current occupation by Russian troops of strategic positions in Georgia is unacceptable and can by no means be considered as ‘additional security measures’ referred to in the cease-fire agreement,” he continued.