Jim Murphy

« Serbia's ambassadors... | Main | Brits Abroad »

Tuesday 12 August, 2008

The events in Georgia over the last 5 days have shocked me, people throughout the UK and the international community. Russia's use of force in a sovereign and democratic country is unacceptable and unjustifiable. The situation has been moving too fast to even blog about at times, and I have kept in touch daily with our Ambassador in Tbilisi to follow Russia's movements and motives, Georgia's response and the impact on the people in Georgia, including the 350 or so UK citizens who have been caught up in the violence. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and I have all been involved in efforts with partners in the EU, NATO, G7, OSCE and UN to put pressure on Russia to end its actions, and David Miliband and I will both be in Brussels tomorrow at an emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to discuss the situation and way forward.

Today, President Medvedev has said that Russia's forces will end their operations. We wait to see the evidence of this. I visited Georgia in May and met President Saakashvili and saw for myself the fragile situation on the ground - this has now been shattered. It is for Georgia and the international community to work together, building on the efforts of France and the OSCE, to return to the path towards peace in the region.

Posted at 18:26 12 August 2008 by Jim Murphy | Comments[13]

Share this with:

Comments:

The French Foreign Minister Kouchner has confirmed that the civilian inhabitants of South Ossetian capital Tsinvali ? were shelled by Georgian military forces in the night of August 6th. Why did Georgia shell civilians who are part and parcel of its territory, its own citizens? Is the use of force acceptable if it is by the government of Georgia, and not acceptable if it is by outside powers? What about the US/UK use of force against Iraq in 2003, not to mention Yugoslavia in 1998? A case of double standards?

Posted by Mike on August 13, 2008 at 12:17 AM BST #

Claims of war crimes against civilians in Tshkhinvali must be thoroughly investigated and if they're proved those responsible must be held to account. Putin's allegations of genocide must be investigated equally throughly. If they're part of a spin campaign aimed at establishing some sort of equivalence between the situations in South Ossetia and Kosova 1998/9 I trust there'll also be an investigation of Putin's own credentials as an expert on genocide, perhaps with reference to Chechnya.

Posted by Owen on August 13, 2008 at 09:01 AM BST #

This is just a load of rubbish, Mr. Murphy. I regard you as a blatant, and ignorant, nti-Russian demagogue. You talk about Georgia territorial integrity, yet the UK, and USA, didn't respect the territorial integrity of Serbia, and Iraq. Georgian troops looks like they committed war crimes in their attack on Tsinvali, yet you choose, and the British government too, ignore and brush aside that fact. The mere fact of an indiscriminated attack on the civilian population IS a war crime, as Georgian troops did in their initial attack, under the orders of President Sakashvili. Sakashvili must also respond to the international community for his actions and, possibly, go to The Hague tribunal for war crimes. Hopefully, the Georgian people will boot out that fool, for him never to return to public life in Georgia. Face the facts, it looks like that the South Ossetian people do not want to live under Georgian rule, and that should be respected, as the Kosovar people's wishes were also respected, remember that? Or is your memory so short, or blinkered, that you have forgotten that? Frankly, I think you are in no position to be a Minister for Europe and should resign from your post. I consider you as an ignorant petty minded politician.

Posted by Pablo Luis Gonzalez on August 13, 2008 at 09:36 AM BST #

Jim, what about your answer on Mike's comment/question? We all looking forward to hear the answer. Saddam was also democratically elected but he commited the crime ethnic kills and genocide and had to be punished. The same situation with Saakashvilly - he first entered the Tskhinvaly and bomed the civilianz. Only after that Russia started operation to neutralize Georgian forses, bringing the peace.

Posted by Andrey on August 13, 2008 at 10:21 AM BST #

How can you possibly post such a one-sided view and keep a straight face? For sure the Russians should now withdraw but you could indicate at least an elementary awareness of the Georgian aggression which triggered what may or may not have been a previously planned response. When Israel reacted in a similarly robust manner to Hezbollah provocation HM Government gave vocal support - a policy I happened to agree with - to an obviously planned response. Georgia's attack on South Ossetia, a region subject to UN-mandated peacekeeping operations, was not only far more provocative than Hezbollah's but seems to have resulted in civilian and peacekeeper casualties far in excess of anything Israel suffered. Yet it is Russia alone which stands condemned in a blog post by a UK Minister.

Posted by Tim Sewell on August 13, 2008 at 11:01 AM BST #

Why a "sovereign and democratic" country cannot heed the will of a people - the Ossetians - that wants to live in peace and to be independent of Georgia? Not to mention that both Ossetia and Georgia had been part of Russia for 2 centuries before Georgia broke away in 1991 and took Ossetia with it against its will. Ossetia and Georgia are TWO peoples and two nations. Each has a right to decide its fate. Although, you are right, Sir. If you guys want to keep borders of sovereign nations intact, then surely you must insist that Ossetia returns to Georgia – while Georgia, Ukraine and other 13 territories return to Russia. Or USSR/Russia is not a sovereing nation by your standards and RUSSIAN borders were somehow different in 1991? I'm not saying it should happen - but I hope that you, with your high standards of sovereignty and border integrity, want the USSR back. Oh, and Kosovo – I can only imagine your indignation at its “independence” and the blatant disregard for the sovereignty of Serbia. You guys are working on returning it to Serbia, right? That is, whenever you have some free time from your busy schedule of protesting against the US violation of the sovereignty and border integrity of Iraq. And if not, why are you so indignant in this case?

Posted by SD on August 13, 2008 at 11:23 AM BST #

The British government has sadly just taken one side in this conflict trusting everything the Georgian government has said. This is dangerous considering the Georgian President has been proved to of lied on several occasions to the western media. Its clear the Russians have been planning this and are agressors invading another country illegally however Georgias actions which provoked the response by Russia should be considered. There has clearly been alot of suffering for the people of South Osseti, now ever Russia caused that damage themselves and there is a huge conspiracy or Georgian forces did attack a large civilian populated area causing deaths of civilians and peacekeepers. I can imagine if British peacekeepers were killed by a government wed hardly be taking their side. The United States and countries that are trying to start a new cold war need to calm down. They simply make the situation worse when in reality we have to work with the Russian Federation and can never defeat them in a war because of nuclear weapons. Please dont take such a biased view. Just because georgia is a "western" looking government doesnt mean they dont lie. Atleast remain more neutral until evidence shows Georgia is innocent in this conflict. I hope this some have second thoughts about allowing Georgia to join the EU and NATO.. they certainly havnt acted liked a western power over the past week

Posted by Simon on August 13, 2008 at 05:22 PM BST #

Given that you condemn Russia's actions on the basis of a violation of Georgia's sovereignty, I have a few questions. First, why were Russian forces stationed in South Ossetia under a UN mandate if they do not possess the authority to act in defense of that region against aggressors? And second, why did the Ossetian refugees not flee into Georgia in the face of the Russian advance, rather than fleeing into Russia as is the case? Why run into the lap of your enemy? Unless ... they are not your enemy at all!! It seems that if you wish to maintain the national unity of Georgia as the basis for its legitimate sovereignty over Ossetia, then you must necessarily discount the situational and local conditions present in the Ossetian region. And if you wish to maintain that Georgia includes South Ossetia, and possesses legitimate sovereignty over it, then you must have obviously objected to Russia's presence in Ossetia from the beginning. Why were there no calls for Russian bases to be removed from Ossetia prior to these events?

Posted by BIll on August 13, 2008 at 07:21 PM BST #

Jim, we offer uncritical support for a ruler who is prepared to use tanks and missiles against his own people - first declaring a ceasefire, then attacking? What happened to an ethical foreign policy? This is a disgrace, Georgia should be condemned too. Otherwise what kind of signal are you sending to other rulers - ally with us, and do what you like. Please answer.

Posted by James N on August 14, 2008 at 09:41 AM BST #

It's time for action -- and not whilly-nilly rhetoric -- to stop Russia's aggression: 1 freeze Russian financial assets in the UK; 2 suspend cultural exchanges; 3 halt British visas for Russian applicants; 4 recall the ambassador from Moscow. We must respond to Russia's calculated aggression. Let's see ACTION.

Posted by Jim Schlagheck on August 15, 2008 at 03:43 PM BST #

That some thing to think and time time before do any thing! God will tell You Guys what To do! Just ask God !

Posted by Frank on September 10, 2008 at 09:06 PM BST #

I am heartened to read so many comments questioning the current government view of the invasion of South Ossetia and have learned a great deal from these comments. Information I have received from sources in our own country suggest that the invasion of Georgia was orchestrated and my suspicions rest on the same Marxist influences which have been destroying Britain for decades. These influences are also present in the USA and they do not want peace between Russia and the west. They will always keep working to start wars and cause neverending trouble. Research of one or two of the western political figures involved in stirring up the Georgian invasion of S Ossetia shows marked evidence of strong Marxist influences in their early training. I just hope our government are fully aware of this.

Jim Murphy

Minister for Europe

Calendar

Search

Feeds

Tag cloud

Blogroll

Evaluations

FCO bloggers

FCO partners overseas

FCO websites

UK government websites

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
« February 2010
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28


Today