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United Nations
Georgian peace accord must be fully implemented, Security Council hears
19 August 2008 - The full implementation of the principles enshrined
in last weeks peace plan that ended fighting in Georgia remains the
best way to defuse tensions, find a lasting solution to the conflict
and allow humanitarian assistance to those in need, the top United
Nations political official told the Security Council today.
Briefing Council members at an open meeting, B. Lynn Pascoe,
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said the UN was ready
to facilitate international discussions to implement the accord and to
take part in concrete arrangements to achieve a settlement.
He noted that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasized in his
consultations with the concerned parties so far that all military acts
must cease and that aid officials must have unimpeded access to those
in need.
While welcoming the fact that the ceasefire plan has now been signed
by both the Russian Federation and Georgia, the Secretary-General
stressed the need for it to be implemented and for all forces to
immediately withdraw, Mr. Pascoe said.
With all his interlocutors, the Secretary-General has reiterated the
importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Georgia.
The European Union-sponsored agreement reached last week sets out six
principles to end the military hostilities, including: a commitment by
all parties to renounce the use of force; the immediate and definitive
cessation of hostilities; free access to humanitarian aid; the
withdrawal of Georgian forces to their places of permanent deployment;
and the convening of international discussions on lasting security
arrangements for Abkhazia (Georgia) and South Ossetia (Georgia).
The other principle stipulates the withdrawal of Russian forces to
their lines of deployment before 7 August, and includes the additional
provision that Russian peacekeeping forces may implement additional
security measures pending the definition of an international
mechanism.
Heavy fighting began earlier this month in South Ossetia between
Georgian and South Ossetian forces, with Russian forces becoming
involved there and in the separate region of Abkhazia and other parts
of Georgia in the following days.
Mr. Pascoe noted that the Georgian Government and the South Ossetian
de facto authorities dispute the number of dead and other casualties,
but UN agencies believe almost 160,000 people have been displaced by
the conflict.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) António Guterres today began
a four-day visit to Georgia and Russia to assess humanitarian
operations and meet some of the people displaced by the deadly
violence.
In a separate briefing, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations Edmond Mulet reported to Council members on the situation
in Abkhazia, where a UN observer mission known as UNOMIG is tasked
with monitoring compliance with a 1994 ceasefire accord.
Later, the Council also heard statements from representatives of
Georgia, Russia and other countries about the conflict in Georgia.
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