David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Thursday 30 July, 2009

Georgia: one year on

Almost one year on from the Russia-Georgia conflict, there remains a lot to do to repair the damage. Thousands of displaced people are still unable to return to their homes. Russian troops still occupy positions in breach of the ceasefire agreements signed last summer.

Our support for Georgia’s rights is clear. Glenys Kinnock made this clear when she visited Tbilisi in June. I applaud the EU's decision this week to extend the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia.

I very much welcome Vice-President Biden's reaffirmation  during his recent visit to Tbilisi of US commitment to a democratic Georgia -consolidation of the progress made so far is the clearest path towards durable peace.   

There is a separate and wider debate about European security spurred by President Medvedev’s call for a “New European Security Architecture”. It is important, and can show that the post Soviet geography of Central and Eastern Europe is not a threat to Russia. The greatest risks we face are shared.

Posted at 15:24 30 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[20]

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When I listen to UK Foreign Secretary speaking about the war between Georgia and Russia the most remarkable thing I notice is that even when he talks about things he has very little knowledge about he sounds as convincing and intelligent as if he was talking about the events in the EU or the Commonwealth that are by far more important to ordinary Britains then events in the Caucuses, that have been presented in UK not without anti-Russian prejudices and almost entirely from the position of official Tbilisi. Support for the Georgian President is a disgrace for such a remarkable diplomat and a very smart gentleman that Mr Miliband has always been to me and many of my fellow Russians.

Posted by David Dikov on July 30, 2009 at 07:24 PM BST #

The qestion is Georgia are going to be menber of NATO. Perhaps NATO is to big already. Many new country already to help in crissis.

Posted by Jan Engseth on July 31, 2009 at 02:47 PM BST #

I should think that HMG's approach would be supported by most Britons who have considered the matter. The FO and estimable Foreign Secretary are no doubt better informed than those with axes to grind will give them credit for. Quite a relief for those of us who were born at the dawn of the cold war and who feared WW3 to reflect that it is possible to disagree with the Russian Government without the expectation of Clarkson/Cameron style language and threats in return.

Posted by Quietzapple on July 31, 2009 at 06:42 PM BST #

Mr. fellow Russian, You know when you're talking about one's dignity and you think that supporting Georgian President is just a disgrace, as you say so, look at your "fellow" Russian politicians. Or maybe your president Medveev or something? No one in Europe believes that he is the man who runs Russia now, surely he is the one puppet of Mr Putin you Russians are proud of so much. The man who says that Georgians are those ones who attempted the "Genocide" in so called country of South Osetia, as your government calls them as "State", but do you know what Genocide really means? I bet you do not know, because of your Russian 24/7 propaganda on Georgians, how bad they are. And what a "fellow" Russian like you what you'd say about Chechen War? More than 60.000 people where killed brutally by your lovely Mr. Putin. Are you proud of that? Sure you are! You are proud of everything what your Soviet lover Putin will say. Of course, be proud of that! Congrats in that. Tonny

Posted by Tonny on July 31, 2009 at 09:54 PM BST #

When I read articles related to condemnation of Russian government, there are always comments criticizing the authors of those articles. The comments are so massively organized, and they made me wonder who's organizing all these "social media marketing" behind the curtain.

Posted by T101 on August 01, 2009 at 07:54 PM BST #

If it is so that 6 earlyre menber og Sovjet go into a alliance of army it more useful to have both Ukraina and Georgia into NATO.

Posted by Jan Engseth on August 02, 2009 at 08:39 PM BST #

You speak a lot of truth and I agree with what you say. I wish you all the best of luck. It doesn't feel like it was a year ago as well.

Posted by Lewis Miller on August 03, 2009 at 12:20 AM BST #

Why is Milliband supporting Georgia? President Sassvalki attacked Russian peacekeepers and attacked civilian areas causing the war. This kind of talk from Mr Milliband is provoking and difficult to understand. It is a distortion of the historical facts and an insult to the intelligence of the ordinary voter. Does Mr Milliband want better relations with Russia or does he want to create international tensions?

Posted by Stu on August 04, 2009 at 02:47 PM BST #

Still flogging that high horse are we? For the record I am a British citizen who can actually read, knows what happened, and is therefore offended by this continuing insult to my intelligence. I only hope you don't believe this rubbish yourself because when you start believing your own propaganda that's when the trouble really starts.

Posted by Duncan on August 05, 2009 at 01:55 AM BST #

Well, one could say that had Russia not invaded one of it's neighbours then Mr. Miliband would probably never have needed to talk about Georgia once in his press statements. It would seem that David and his fellow Russians have brought about the very comments of which he is complaining. How ironic.

Posted by Sam on August 06, 2009 at 12:47 PM BST #

Commenting on Mr.Miliband's cackling about repairing the damage caused by miscalculations of Misha Saakashvili and his Western manipulators, I cannot be as polite and reserved as David Dikov because the damage of lost lives cannot be repaired at all. So I'll better refrain from shaming "a remarkable diplomat and very smart gentleman" and simply tell the guy, in commercial terms, that decency pays and that his primitive position - my enemy's enemy is my friend - is deplorably short-sighted and loosing. And there's abundant evidence to it. Viacheslav Sokolsky

Posted by Viacheslav Sokoslky on August 06, 2009 at 07:29 PM BST #

When doing speeches... Please, please , please do not use the diamond hand gesture... Its VERY annoying.

Posted by Roger Tyneworth on August 07, 2009 at 06:31 AM BST #

Full marks to Russia for protecting its citizen and reacting to the killing of its solidiers. We the west should be condeming the Georgian President for instigating hostilities and indescriminatly targeting civilians.It seems hypicritical in the extreme for the US/UK to flaunt its military power in Kosova and then complain when Russia,with more ligitimacy,protects its own people.

Posted by stephen beattie on August 08, 2009 at 04:05 PM BST #

I wish you could say the same nice words about Cyprus in relation to the Turkish invasion and occupation of one third of the Cypriot territory. After all, the same problems of internally displaced persons, artificial geographical separation of the people, and illegal declaration of secesionist entities exist in both cases. Or is it easier to criticize Russia than Turkey? Would it be true that in politics a double standards approach is a must?

Posted by Athassoulla Maroulla Hadjifkiorou on August 10, 2009 at 01:37 PM BST #

Sir, there should be no fightings and violence for geographical areas between two nations. This is not reasonable in 21st century; such conflicts should be solved by peacefull discussions between two nations. There should be no place of violence for love, peace and unity. [ Prabhat Misra ]

Posted by Prabhat Misra on August 13, 2009 at 10:22 AM BST #

Thank you for at least having the courage to state clearly the UK's position and to recognise that under International Law and norms, Russia's conduct is not only reprehensible but part of a bigger Kremlin plan. It is very sad that a number of EU countries appear to lead the vanguard of 'live and let live' and putting their heads in the sand. They apparently lack the political will, likely combined with economic interest EDF.....! to speak out against what tantamounts to bullying and blackmail. Putin said today in Abkhazia 13th August that he will let UN and OSCE monitors into the breakaway regions if they were recognised as independant. Well, that was on cards a long while back - if you know soviet mentality, the patterns of behaviour are there.....just as the 'annexation' that we see now was planned, fomented and supported from a couple of years ago. In fact, since the Rose Revolution the stamping out of corruption and trafficking between Georgia and Russia through the two territories was a deciding factor in the Kremlin policy. Those with a modicum of interest in geopolitics and history will know that a contrary to what Mr Dikov says, the situation in the Caucasus and the Black Sea remember Crimea? affects our future in the EU, b a stable and federated Georgia within it's internationally recognised boundaries will guarantee our energy supplies tomorrow and prevent the Russian gradual stranglehold that is part of today's Kremlin policy, c that the 'genocide' was in fact perpertrated from the 90's against the Georgians and that the Russian Army, it's mercenaries and South Osetians committed atrocious crimes last August. It's time to wake up and look facts in the face, act appropriately and vigorously to counter what are now open threats. Putin has spoken, it's out in the open, the blackmail continues and it looks as though this winter's gas supply will be the Kremlin's leverage tool......

Posted by Lynne Blackwood on August 13, 2009 at 01:23 PM BST #

I really believe that countries should try and work out issued with mediation and no conflicts

Posted by Steve O reilly on August 23, 2009 at 10:48 PM BST #

Dear David, to me it's a must to read your excellent reports and statements.Just to keep up-to-date in Foreign Politics.So I want to thank you for your clear words about Georgia.We can't forget that thousands of displaced people are unable to return to their homes. We also can't forget that more than 50.000 people were killed BBC.This isn't in the sense of the ceasefire -agreements in August'08.That's why I full agree to you that we and the EU must support this country.The key to a democratic Georgia-consolidation might be a look at the progress made so far as a way to durable peace. President Medvedev's plan for a "New European Security Architecture"looks interesting and important. To end my comment I want to join Jan Engseth suggestions #2/#12.I also think that a NATO-Membership of both, Georgia and the Ukraine would be the best solution for all of us. Best wishes, Ingo-Steven Wais

Posted by Ingo-Steven Wais on August 24, 2009 at 03:31 PM BST #

I am Russian,but I am very glad that there is exist such a president as Mr Saakashvily,which is opposed to such brutal politics as Putin and Medvedev.Russia is full of Kremlin propaganda,brainswashing,false and evil murders of tens of journalists,thousands of chechens and so on

Posted by vitalij on August 29, 2009 at 06:03 AM BST #

We only get one shot at life! it is so very easy to throw it all away and become very aggresive with our neighbors. So i agree with the comments made by Glenys Kinnock when she visited Tbilisi in June. I am looking forward to discussing the current political situation in Georgia with representatives of both Government and Opposition. We see dialogue between all political forces and civil society as the only feasible solution to the challenges Georgia faces.

Posted by Phillip Ahmed on September 02, 2009 at 10:26 AM BST #

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