UN Security Council Debate on the situation in Georgia

Veleposlanik Ranko Vilovic, zamjenik stalnog predstavnika RH pri Ujedinjenim narodima, održao je govor na raspravi Vijeca sigurnosti UN-a u svezi situacije u Gruziji.

Allow me first of all to join previous speakers in thanking Under-Secretary-General Pascoe and Assistant Secretary-General Mulet for their briefings. In previous meetings and consultations, my delegation has made clear its position with regard to the ongoing conflict, so we shall limit ourselves to a few points that we find particularly important or see as new and relevant elements with regard to the situation in Georgia. Croatia welcomes the six-principle agreement, signed by Georgia and Russia through the diplomatic efforts of the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United States, to end the hostilities and reach a political solution to the conflict. According to that agreement, all military action must cease and military forces must return to their position held prior to the outbreak of hostilities. We call on all parties to the conflict to fully comply with the agreement. Accordingly, we call on Russia to immediatelly withdraw its forces from those areas within Georgia that it entered following the outbreak of hostilities on 7 August, as specified in the aforementioned agreement. We also call on Georgia to return its forces to their usual bases, also in line with the situation that existed before 7 August. in that regard, we would also like to welcome today's decison of the Permanent Council of the OSCE to appoint 20 additional military observers. Croatia is extremely concerned also by the humanitarian situation on the ground. We deplore the loss of life and the civilian casualties resulting from the conflict. Croatia has undertaken measures in concern with International Organization and interested Governments, in order to provide much-needed assistance to the civilian population affected by the conflict. We call on all the parties to ensure that this assistance reaches all affected populations. Croatia also reitares its support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, which are recognized by international law and existing Security Council resolutions. Finally, Croatia fully supports the draft resolution on the situation in Georgia proposed by the delegation of France as a first and necessary step towards the full implementation of the six-principle agreement. We hope that the draft resolution can be adopted expeditiously with the aim of ensuring that the parties implement the six-principle agreement in its entirely and in good faith.

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