Please sign the Petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/online/21091.html
The Ossetians are originally descendants of the Alans, a Sarmatian tribe. Under Mongol rule, they were pushed out of their medieval homeland south of the Don river in present-day Russia and part migrated towards and over the Caucasus mountains, to Georgia where they formed three distinct territorial entities.
Digor in the west came under the influence of the neighboring Kabard people, who introduced Islam. Tualläg in the south became what is now South Ossetia, part of the historical Georgian principality of Samachablo where Ossetians found refuge from Mongol invaders. Iron in the north became what is now North Ossetia, under Russian rule from 1767.
The Soviet government established by the Russian 11th Red Army in 1921 created the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast (i.e., district) in April 1922.
The United Nations, European Union, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of the European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and all other countries in the world recognize South Ossetia as part of Georgia. However, the de facto independent republic governed by the secessionist government held a second independence referendum on November 12, 2006, after its first referendum in 1992 was not recognized by the international community as valid. However, it was not recognized internationally by the UN, European Union, OSCE, NATO and the Russian Federation, given the lack of ethnic Georgian participation and the legality of such referendum without recognition from the central government in Tbilisi.
The European Union, OSCE and NATO condemned the referendum. Parallel to the secessionist held referendum and elections, the Ossetian opposition movement (The Salvation Union of South Ossetia) to Kokoity, organised their own elections in which both Georgian and some Ossetian inhabitants of the region voted in favour of Dmitri Sanakoev as the alternative President of South Ossetia. The alternative elections of Sanakoev claimed full support of the ethnic Georgian population. In 2007, Dmitri Sanakoev became the head of the Provisional Administration of South Ossetia.
On July 13, 2007, Georgia set up a state commission, chaired by the Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, to develop South Ossetia's autonomous status within the Georgian state. According to the Georgian officials, the status will be elaborated within the framework of "an all-inclusive dialogue" with all the forces and communities within the Ossetian society.
On August 8, 2008, on the same day as the 2008 Olympic Games officially commenced, hostilities began between Georgian forces and South Ossetia's separatist forces supported by Russian military forces.
Petition:
We, the undersigned, call upon the international community to meaningfully aid Georgia in stopping the Russian Federation from violating international laws and its attacks on Georgia's sovereign territory.
The international community has long recognized that South Ossetia is an integral part of Georgia's territory. The presence of Russian forces has been legitimate solely for peacekeeping. The most recent actions by Russia go far beyond its legitimate and recognized role in managing the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia and should not be tolerated.
We people, respectful of international laws, regulations and democracy, request that all the Russian Federation's military forces must leave Georgia's land and territory. Further we demand that these forces cease any and all attacks on Georgian targets civilian or military.
We ask the world to raise their voices in support for Georgia's right to protect its territorial integrity. We ask you to raise your voices to protect the civilians that are suffering due to the Russian Federation’s attacks outside the conflict zone. We ask you to send an envoy to Georgia to negotiate for the safety of our citizens to find an end to this war. The principles of democracy and civilized society require every person who cares about democracy throughout the world to stand up for Georgia.
Now it is up to the world to help Georgia, thus to defend principles of democracy. Russia must be held accountable for their actions. Please join us in solidarity to call upon Russia to step back and leave the space for negotiations, and to respect Georgia’s sovereignty as an independent nation.
http://pr1.rustavi2.com/news/index.php
more detailed news
Richard Holbrooke: “Putin’s next target will be Ukraine”
11.08.08 13:04
Former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke said Russia acted feeling hatred for Mikhail Saakashvili and wanted to overthrow the government, APA reports. Richard Holbrooke said in his interview to CNN that Russia trying to separate Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia incited Georgia to the military conflict.
“No one needs cold war with Russia. But this country has intruded into the territory of a sovereign state. I was surprised at Bush’s embracing Putin in the opening of the Olympic Games. After that Putin was sitting while Bush and first lady were applauding the American team,” he said.
Richard Holbrooke called Mikhail Saakashvili the most democratic and pro-western leader in the region.
Asked whether the war could impact on the whole region, former diplomat said he did not believe it and that Ukraine would join the conflict.
“Putin’s next target will be Ukraine. But he can not do it there. Georgia has 5 million population and Ukraine 50 million. There are other factors, too,” he said.
Richard Holbrooke is expected to be Secretary of State in case Barack Obama is elected president.
UN Security Council to meet again
11.08.08 11:55
The UN Security Council ended on Sunday another round of consultations without reaching an agreement on a truce call for the escalating conflict in Georgia. It was the 15-member body's fourth meeting on the subject since late-night Thursday, when Russia circulated a draft statement urging Georgia and South Ossetian rebels to renounce the use of force. After the previous three rounds of talks, the council did not approve the draft as well as its revised versions that included a call for the parties to refrain from the use of violence.
During Sunday's meeting, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin traded accusations over the conflict, which the UN said has spread to Abkhazia, another rebel enclave inside Georgia. Citing a telephone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart Condoleezza Rice
, Khalilzad accused Russia of attempting a regime change in Georgia. `This is completely unacceptable and crosses the line,` Khalilzad said.
He also said through its military offensive against Georgia, Russia was trying to wage `terror` against the local people. `We must condemn Russia's military assault on the sovereign state of Georgia ... including the targeting of civilians and the campaign of terror against the Georgian population,` he said.
Churkin vehemently denied the `terror` charge. `This is completely unacceptable, especially from the lips of a representative of a country whose actions we are aware of in Iraq, Afghanistan and Serbia,` he retorted.
Khalilzad said he was preparing a draft resolution that would urge the council to call for an immediate cease-fire and condemn Russia.
In a briefing to the council at Saturday's meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet said hostilities are continuing in Georgia and there have been a `substantial number of casualties, refugees and destruction. `
Citing reports from UN peacekeepers in the region, Mulet expressed concerns that the conflict appeared to be spreading into Abkhazia.
Since late Thursday, the council has been trying to adopt a statement that would call on the warring parties in Georgia to cease violence immediately.
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