International Reaction To The 2008 South Ossetia War - National Statements

On 10 August David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated, "I am very concerned about the expansion of hostilities well beyond the region of South Ossetia. Rather than acting as a neutral peacekeeper, Russia has escalated the hostilities through its attacks on Georgian towns and cities outside the conflict zone. Canada calls on Russia to respect Georgia’s borders and to desist from any further encroachment on Georgia’s territorial integrity." On 27 August, International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda announced $2 million dollars in humanitarian aid.

Estonian President Ilves said argued for NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine.

France urged both sides reach a ceasefire.

Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler accused Georgia of violating international law by breaking a 1992 ceasefire agreement. He called it "a question of a violation of international law". Erler acknowledged provocation by South Ossetia's separatists, but said he understood Russia's reaction.

Eckart von Klaeden, foreign policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union, said Russia was "equally guilty" for the escalation.

Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder acknowledged that the conflict was triggered by Georgia's invasion of South Ossetia. When asked if he thought American military advisers stationed in Tbilisi encouraged the attack he responded, "I wouldn't go that far. But everyone knows that these US military advisors in Georgia exist – a deployment that I've never considered particularly intelligent. And it would have been strange if these experts had not had any information. Either they were extremely unprofessional or they were truly fooled, which is hard to imagine." He went on to say that "there have indeed been serious mistakes made by the West in its policy toward Russia." He described Saakashvili as a "gambler" and claimed that Russia was not pursuing annexation. The German military attache in Moscow described the Russian military response in Georgia as "appropriate" in an internal document. "The extent of the use of military force by the Russian side appears – seen from here and despite reports to the contrary from Georgia and the picture conveyed by the media – not inappropriately high," Brigadier General Heinz G Wagner wrote on August 11.

On 14 August the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a Greek diaspora member, Ivan Mihailidis, was killed in the capital of South Ossetia, while his three family members remain in the town, and that in Vladikavkaz there are 25 refugees that are members of the Greek diaspora or their families; the Greek government provided financial aid to the Greek diaspora families.

Foreign Ministry press spoksman Piotr Paszkowski said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the infringement of Georgian territorial integrity by foreign military forces to be unacceptable....The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on countries and international organisations engaged in the process of resolving the conflict....to take action immediately."

He stated, "In Kosovo, so-called collective rights were put ahead of a country's integrity. Now see what is happening in the southern Caucasus. The development is that territorial integrity is stepped over in the name of protecting minority rights. You cannot have that."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that Romanian-made infantry weapons and ammunition delivered to Georgia were in compliance with international law.

President Yushchenko visited Tbilisi on 12 August and gave a speech to 200 thousand Georgians. He spoke in support of Georgia in its aspiration to freedom and independence. He stated, "Freedom is worthy to fight for it. We came here to prove your sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. That is our values. You never be alone. ... There are millions of us."

On 13 August Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko stated, "We stand in solidarity with the democratically-elected leadership of Georgia. Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected".

Ib contrast, Viktor Yanukovych, in 2008 the leader of the Party of Regions stated that Ukraine should recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He stated that the situation should be treated like Kosovo. Yanukovych claimed that the double standards of the West were unacceptable. The Communist Partyalso registered a draft resolution to recognise the two republics. After his election as President, Yanukovych said on 4 June 2010: "I have never recognized Abkhazia, South Ossetia or Kosovo's independence. This is a violation of international law."

On 4 September Yushchenko threatened to dissolve parliament and call snap elections. One of the reasons he gave for this was that Tymoshenko's party (BYuT) refused to adopt a resolution condemning Russia's actions. Tymoshenko claimed her position was in line with the EU`s and that she did not want to drag Ukraine into conflict.

... The offer of a ceasefire by the Georgian government is very welcome. We now look to the Russian Government to accept this offer and agree to an immediate ceasefire, in line with its international commitments to respect Georgian territorial integrity."

On 9 August, the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband said, "Russia has extended the fighting today well beyond South Ossetia, attacking the Georgian port of Poti,and the town of Gori, while Abkhaz forces have been shelling Georgian positions in the Upper Kodori valley. I deplore this.

Vice President Dick Cheney said on 10 August, "Russian aggression must not go unanswered, and its continuation would have serious consequences for its relations with the United States, as well as the broader international community."

On 21 August the US Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle said that the initial Russian reaction to Georgia's attack was legitimate. The Pentagon declared on 25 August that Russia had not met its obligations to withdraw troops from Georgia under the French-brokered ceasefire agreement. In his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on 4 August 2009, Assistant Secretary of State Philip H. Gordon referred to the events as "the Russian invasion."