Crisis in Georgia

Visit of Jean-Pierre Jouyet to the European Parliament (August 20, 2008)
Exchange of russian and georgian prisoners (August 19, 2008)
Situation on August 18
Special Council for General Affairs and External Relations devoted to the situation in Georgia (August 13, 2008)

Visit of Jean-Pierre Jouyet to the European Parliament (August 20, 2008)

In Brussels, European Affairs Secretary Jouyet briefed the European Parliament foreign affairs committee, the sub-committee on security and defense, and the parliamentary delegation for relations with the Caucasus countries on the initiatives taken by the French presidency of the European Union to encourage a solution to the conflict in Georgia. He spoke with the European legislators about the action we’ve taken to promote a cease-fire, and the conclusions of the special general affairs/external relations council which met on August 13.

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Exchange of russian and georgian prisoners (August 19, 2008)

On August 19 Russia and Georgia signed the protocol of an agreement on a prisoner-of-war exchange, brokered by the French ambassador to Georgia, Eric Fournier. Our ambassador also signed the text.

Following the signing, the two parties proceeded at 10:15 a.m. to exchange prisoners in the city of Igoeti -15 Georgians and five Russians who will return to their country on a voluntary basis. In addition to our ambassador the ICRC was present.

France welcomes this exchange of prisoners and hopes that the agreement can be applied to persons who may still be held prisoner in the wake of this conflict.

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French aid to the civilian victims of the conflict in Georgia is continuing (August 19, 2008)

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Situation on August 18

We continue to follow closely the development of the situation on the ground. We remain mobilized at all levels and in all the relevant forums. We are in permanent contact with all the actors.

At his initiative, President Sarkozy, president of the European Council, had a telephone conversation with President Medvedev on August 17. He emphasized that the signature of the six-point agreement, signed by all the parties concerned, lastly by the president of the Russian Federation, should lead to an immediate withdrawal of all Russian military forces that have entered into Georgia since August 7.

President Sarkozy warned President Medvedev of the serious consequences that failure to implement the agreement quickly and fully would have on Russia’s relations with the European Union.

President Medvedev announced that the withdrawal of Russian troops will begin during the middle of the day Monday, August 18.

We are being vigilant regarding compliance with the commitments that have been made, in particular the withdrawal of Russian troops and, obviously, free access to civilians for humanitarian organizations.

During their conversation, the two heads of state agreed on the deployment of international observers from the OSCE as soon as possible. We hope the member states take a decision this very afternoon at the meeting of the permanent council so as to bring the number of OSCE observers on the ground to 100.

The two presidents also agreed to talk by phone daily regarding the implementation of the cease-fire agreement.

The minister, Bernard Kouchner, for his part, has spoken daily and several times with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and with several of his EU counterparts.

In the wake of the meeting of the 27 foreign ministers in Brussels last week, the Council’s secretariat general and the European Commission are working with the French presidency on proposals for the EU to be involved in practical terms in a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflicts in Georgia. At the minister’s request, a working meeting is to take place at the Quai d’Orsay this afternoon with representatives of both institutions to examine the possible options.

A special North Atlantic Council meeting at foreign ministers’ level is to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, August 19, in Brussels to discuss the situation. Bernard Kouchner will be participating.

Talks in the Security Council in New York on the adoption of a resolution that would help to stabilize the situation in Georgia continued all weekend. The negotiations on the text proposed by France will resume today. We call on the Council members to adopt this text without further delay.

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Situation on August 14

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is sparing no effort to achieve the effective implementation of the agreement reached by the Russian and Georgian presidents during the mediation effort conducted by the President of the Republic on August 12.

During a telephone conversation on the 13 th, the President asked President Dmitri Medvedev for clarification on reports of Russian tank movements. Mr. Kouchner made the same request of his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The Russian authorities assured them that the Russian Federation would respect its commitments.

Our ambassadors in Moscow and Tbilisi are also remaining in constant contact with the Russian and Georgian authorities.

Our efforts are also directed toward the swift implementation of other aspects of the settlement plan.

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is in close contact with its principal partners. This afternoon, President Sarkozy will receive U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Bernard Kouchner will also attend that meeting.

At the UN, France drafted a Security Council resolution that incorporates the agreement reached by Russia and Georgia. A swift adoption of this resolution by the UN would reinforce the cease-fire significantly. That is why we are currently doing everything we can to gain the support of all Security Council members for this draft as quickly as possible.

Yesterday Mr. Kouchner chaired an extraordinary Council for General Affairs and External Relations on Georgia. It gave the EU an opportunity to endorse the six-point agreement reached in Moscow and Tbilisi. The minister reported on the EU’s and OSCE’s mediation efforts, which the Council welcomed. The principles of Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity were recalled. The Council hailed the results of this mediation effort and endorsed the terms of the agreement concluded the previous day.

At the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE’s special Permanent Council is currently considering a draft from the Chairman-in-Office, Finland, that aims to increase OSCE personnel in South Ossetia to 100 monitors. France, like all members of the EU, strongly backs this move and will fully support the Finnish presidency’s efforts. It will propose to its partners that a decision be taken in the timeliest possible fashion to enable this deployment to begin as quickly as possible.

Finally, an exceptional North Atlantic Council meeting of foreign ministers will be held on August 19 in Brussels to discuss the situation, as Russian and Georgia are both partners of the organization. Mr. Kouchner will attend the meeting.

France is also continuing its humanitarian efforts. Total French aid, not including contributions by NGOs, now amounts to a million euros. It has already begun to be distributed.

Humanitarian flights carried out by France have also repatriated 474 people, including 315 French nationals and people of 19 other nationalities, among them 71 Georgians, 17 Spaniards, 16 Belgians, 14 Italians, 11 Dutch, and six New Zealanders.

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Special Council for General Affairs and External Relations devoted to the situation in Georgia (August 13, 2008)

Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner chaired a special Council for General Affairs and External Relations devoted to the situation in Georgia.

The minister briefed his European counterparts on his visits to Tbilissi and Moscow with Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, the chairman-in-office of the OSCE, and on President Sarkozy’s conversations with his Russian and Georgian counterparts.

The EU ministers analyzed the situation, including from the humanitarian perspective, and examined the actions to take in order to promote a swift resolution to the conflict.

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Peace agreement between Russia and Georgia

It revolves around the following points:

  the non-use of force

  the definitive cessation of hostilities

  free access for humanitarian aid

  the withdrawal of the Georgian military forces to their usual bases

  the withdrawal of Russian military forces to the lines they held before hostilities broke out. While waiting for an international body, the Russian peacekeeping forces will implement additional security measures

  the opening of international discussions on the modalities of security and stability in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

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M. Bernard Kouchner is extremely concerned about the events in South Ossetia, Georgia (August 8, 2008)

M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, is extremely concerned about the events in South Ossetia, Georgia. He deplores the loss of human life.

As President of the European Union Council, the Minister is in contact with all the protagonists in the crisis. His immediate objective is to secure a ceasefire, and he is working on its terms.

To this end, yesterday evening he had several telephone conversations with his Georgian opposite number, Mrs Eka Tkeshelashvili. Given the situation, he has decided to return to Paris tomorrow.

He has reviewed the situation with Mr Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the CFSP, and Mr Alexander Stubb, Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Finnish Foreign Minister. France reiterates her commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within her internationally recognized borders.

France calls on all parties immediately to cease hostilities and resume the negotiations, the only way of finding a way-out of the crisis.

Read the interviews given by Bernard Kouchner with "Europe 1", "France Info", "France 2", "TF 1" and "Le Parisien"

"The war is terrifying, horrifying for civilians, and we can’t let it go on. The French Presidency of the European Union Council-like all the countries of the EU-is concerned and sometimes indignant at what is happening on its doorstep. We must therefore try, together with the Americans, and with the Russians of course, who are a participant in this conflict, to stop the killing."

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Statement by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the deterioration of the situation in South Ossetia, Georgia (August 9, 2008)

The European Union expresses its very grave concern regarding the latest developments in Georgia.

It calls for an immediate ceasefire. The EU welcomes Georgia’s ceasefire offer and expects that Russia will accept it immediately.

It also expresses its deepest concern for the victims, the suffering endured by the populations, the considerable damage incurred, as well as the growing number of displaced persons. The EU states that it is ready to contribute to the humanitarian effort on behalf of these populations.

It calls for a return to the situation in the field prevailing previously and a commitment to negotiations to settle these conflicts as soon as possible.

The EU declares with force its commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and urges Russia respect said borders. It underscores that the continuation of military actions could affect the EU’s relations with Russia.