UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council concluded on
late Tuesday afternoon its emergency consultations on Georgia without reaching
any agreement.
During the open meeting, UN political chief Lynn Pascoe and UN Assistant
Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet briefed the council
on the latest developments in Georgia.
In following remarks, U.S. and European ambassadors called on Russia to
fully comply with the six-point cease-fire agreement sponsored by France and
immediately withdraw its forces from Georgia.
France circulated a short draft resolution that demands compliance with the
cease-fire agreement and the immediate withdrawal of Russian and Georgian
forces.
The draft also reaffirms the commitment of all member states to the
"sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its
internationally recognized borders."
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow could not support the
draft partly because it does not contain all the elements included in the
six-point package.
"We cannot accept that only two elements are taken out of the six
principles," Churkin said. "The six principles must be endorsed in their
entirety."
The draft fails to follow "a clear logic" contained in the peace plan,
which refers to the pullout of Georgian forces before the withdrawal of Russian
troops.
It also does not include the principle that calls for the provision of
additional Russian security measures, Churkin said.
Georgian Ambassador Irakli Alasania urged the council to "act swiftly to
stop aggression which my country was facing."
"Unfortunately, the status of affairs in Georgia has not changed despite
the cease-fire agreement reached a few days ago," Alasania said. "The Russian
side continues to violate the agreed cease-fire arrangements."
Georgia sent troops into South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an attempt to regain
control over its breakaway region, which has enjoyed de facto independence since
1992. Russian troops retaliated by quickly moving into the region and driving
out the Georgian forces.
President Medvedev later signed a French-brokered peace deal, which
provides for the withdrawal of Russian troops.
Russia has said its military operations in Georgia were aimed at enforcing
peace after the Georgian invasion, and protecting civilians and Russian
peacekeepers in South Ossetia.
South Ossetians have traditional links with Russia and many of them hold
Russian passports.