The Baltic Assembly,
concerned about continuing tension in the relations between Georgia and the Russian Federation, which is increasingly escalating after the military aggression by the Russian Federation against Georgia and occupation of a part of its territory, just over one year ago, in August 2008;
expressing its growing concern over the actions of the Russian Federation who is entrenching occupation of the parts of the sovereign and independent state of Georgia and concentrating its military forces in such Georgia’s regions as Abkhazia and South Osetia, thus violating the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia as well as jeopardizing international peace, security and stability;
regretting about the decision of the Russian Federation to veto continuation of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Observer Missions in Georgia, since suspension of these missions contributes to further worsening of the complicated situation in the region and obviously does not meet the interests of the civil population of this conflict zone;
reminding of the importance of ensuring full and unconditional fulfilment of the commitments of the Russian Federation, in compliance with the cease-fire agreements of 12 August 2008 and 8 September 2008, primarily with regard to withdrawal of the Russian troops illegitimately deployed on Georgia’s territory;
reiterating support to preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia without violating its internationally recognized borders,
urges all the countries to refrain from actions that could destabilize the situation in the South Caucasus even more and thus harm stability and security in the whole Europe;
urges the Russian Federation to start fulfilling its commitments listed in the 12 August 2008 and 8 September 2008 agreements: to withdraw the occupational forces from the territory of Georgia recognized by the international community and engage in constructive co-operation to resolve the issues related to the activities of international Observer Missions in the entirely internationally recognized territory of Georgia, since these missions are indispensable with a view to enhancing mutual trust, stability and security in these regions and ensuring provision of humanitarian assistance to civil population;
invites the governments of the European Union and the NATO member countries, representatives of the national parliaments, the European Parliament, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations Organisation and its members, the Council of Europe, civil society and the international community to continue active pursuance of the policy of non-recognition of the alleged “independence” of Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and South Osetia and to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to oblige it to fulfil its international commitments, to continue to raise the issues of ensuring Georgia’s territorial integrity and seek for solid and efficient solutions in this regard, invoking the Geneva international peace talks;
urges the governments of the European Union and NATO, the European Parliament, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations Organisation, the Council of Europe, civil society and the international community to be active mediators in resolving the situation of the IDPs from Abkhazia and South Osetia and provide conditions for them to return to their homes in compliance with the requirements of the international documents, including the Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations of 9 September 2009, by guaranteeing their security and human dignity, and by ensuring that they receive just compensation for the losses incurred from the parties responsible;
underlines the importance of continuation of democracy development and local reforms in Georgia for it to become a fully-fledged member of the European and Euro-Atlantic structures and to efficiently solve its internal political problems, as well as the necessity to create the model of governance attractive to the population of Abkhazia and South Osetia regions and capable of securing minority rights,
urges all the political forces of Georgia to unite their efforts and conduct a constructive dialogue with a view to cherishing democratic values, entrenching the principles of the rule of law and seeking joint solutions in implementing important local reforms through promotion of the broad support of Georgia’s society.
Vilnius, 28 November 2009
