EU, US continue to ‘proudly’ stand by Georgia after 11 years from August war
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Friday, August 9
US Acting Ambassador to Georgia Elizabeth Rood has stated that her country continues to proudly stand by Georgia, responding to the 11th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
“In the 11 years since the Russian invasion of Georgia, each of these houses has come to tell a story of loss - the loss of families, friends, homes, and loved ones. But they also tell stories of courage, friendship, and the resilience of people and the country they love.
“The United States proudly continues to stand with Georgia in caring for those communities displaced by the war and helping to ensure they have a dignified life here until they may safely return to their homes,” Rood said in the village of Tserovani, near Mtskheta, where IDPs live.
The EU representation to Georgia wrote that 11 years have passed since the conflict between Russia and Georgia.
“During this time Russia has not only maintained but increased its military presence in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in violation of international law and its commitments under the 12 August 2008 agreement,” reads the statement.
EU in Georgia wrote that fundamental human rights of the conflict-affected population continue to be violated, including through restrictions on freedom of movement by so-called’ borderisation,’ temporary closures of crossing points and illegal detentions and through the violation of the right to safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees.
“The conflicts in Georgia have caused displacement and trauma to the lives of thousands of people, and that legacy now affects generations. The EU welcomes and supports sincere and apolitical efforts on all sides to address humanitarian and security issues.”
EU says that since the 1990s, they have striven to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in Georgia.
“These efforts were substantially stepped up 11 years ago and continue to this day. The European Union will continue these efforts, including through the activities of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, its engagement as co-chair in the Geneva International Discussions, and the continued presence of the EU Monitoring Mission, the only international monitoring mission on the ground. The European Union will continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders,” reads the statement.
412 were killed, and 1,747 wounded on the Georgian side during the five-day war, while 130,000 became internally displaced.
