In Quotes: Russia’s Reaction on Peacekeepers Resolution

Russia has strongly denounced the Georgian Parliament’s July 18 resolution demanding the Russian peacekeeping troops’ withdrawal from the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflict zone. Below are some of the quotes reported by the Russian media sources reflecting the Russian officials’ reaction.

Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister:
“We will protect our citizens and peacekeepers with all available means. So I do not recommend anyone to encroach on life and dignity of our citizens and our peacekeepers.”

“The Georgian side is recently sabotaging work of those mechanisms, which were set up for resolution of the South Ossetian and Abkhaz conflicts. [Tbilisi] is also sabotaging those agreements in which Georgia itself is participating. [The Georgian side] is refusing to sign OSCE-proposed agreement on non-resumption of hostilities in South Ossetia, as well as [is refusing to sign] a similar agreement in respect of Abkhazia. [Tbilisi] is refusing to resume return of refugees in Abkhazia, although procedures proposed by the UNHCR are already known and are ready. Escalation of tensions in respect of the peacekeeping troops is another source of our deep concern. Apart of those two incidents involving detention of our embassy’s car with our diplomats in it, a Russian peacekeeper was injured as a result of mine explosion. Mines appeared there just recently from the Georgian side. There are too many facts which trigger suspicion that some kind of forceful actions are being prepared in South Ossetia.”

Sergey Ivanov, Defense Minister and Vice-Premier:
“It [the resolution] can hardly have any practical meaning. For taking an appropriate decision consent of at least two parties involved is needed.”

Boris Grizlov, Chairman of the State Duma Council:
“Georgian authorities’ attempts to unfreeze the conflicts” will lead to “negative consequences… Those, who say, that the problem consists in Russian peacekeepers, are mistaken. The conflict was launched not by the Russian peacekeepers. Just these kind of hasty decisions have triggered both Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts [in early 90s].”

Yuri Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow:
“I am a bad politician, I am a manager, but I think that decision about withdrawal for the peacekeeping troops becomes obligatory if only all the conflicting sides agree on it. The demand can only be fulfilled if the both sides announce about the end of the conflict and request pullout of peacekeepers. But if only one side says “Go,” this kind of decision can not be implemented.”
 
Ramzan Kadirov, Prime Minister of Chechnya:
“Hasty decision over this kind of complicated issue will lead to escalation of conflict and unpredictable consequences… Russia is a guarantor of peace and stability in this region… and abolishment of this mechanism will lead to an extreme escalation of tensions and destabilization in the entire Caucasus region,” Kadirov told reporters on Wednesday.

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