Today, the Russian representative at the UNSC, Vitalii Churkin, made an extremely important, I would even say historical, statement at the UN Security Council. I am (desperately) trying to find the English language transcript of his statement, but for the time being all I can offer is the Russian language video of his statement:
UPDATE !: (Note: An *immense* “thank you!’ to qwerty and jtapp for locating this transcript!)
Transcript of Churkin comments:
VITALY CHURKIN ( Russian Federation) said that, unfortunately, the content of Mr. Pascoe’s briefing had shown that the Secretariat and its leadership were unable to adopt an objective position, as required by the substance of the conflict. Over the past three or four days, the Council had been holding meetings on the situation, which had arisen due to the aggression by Georgia against South Ossetia. The meetings had begun at the initiative of the Russian Federation, which had insisted on an open format. Today’s meeting was taking place on the joint initiative of Georgia and the United States. Everybody knew how close relations between those States had become in recent years. During preceding meetings, Georgia’s representative had named some supposedly Russian citizens in South Ossetia as proof that Russia was governing South Ossetia. According to the Russian delegation’s information, however, Georgia had at least 127 advisers from the United States Department of Defense. On 7 August, the day when Georgia had launched military actions against South Ossetia, there had been a joint Georgia-United States military exercise under the name “Immediate Response”.
The current events were not unexpected, he continued, noting that Russia had on many occasions drawn international attention to the situation in South Ossetia, in particular Georgia’s efforts to increase its offensive weapons. In fact, Georgia had increased its military budget by 30 times, and now the purpose of that action was becoming clear. When speaking of the close cooperation between the United States and Georgia, the Russian Federation did not wish to think that the United States had given the green light on the Georgian leadership’s military action. The Russian Federation was in close contact with the United States and believed that cooperation with partners should continue in order to restore peace to Georgia.
At the beginning of its aggression against South Ossetia, Georgia’s representatives had stated that his country was beginning a war against South Ossetia, he recalled, noting that Georgia was undertaking the re-establishment of constitutional order in South Ossetia by trying to resolve a 50-year-long conflict through military means. Its military action had begun with tank and heavy artillery attacks on Russian peacekeepers, which had resulted in 12 deaths. The Russian Federation wondered whether the term “ethnic cleansing” could be used to describe Georgia’s actions. What other terms could be used when 30,000 of South Ossetia’s population of 100,000 had become refugees? Could it be described as genocide when 2,000 out of 100,000 people died?
How many civilians had to die before it was described as genocide? he asked. When others were lamenting the death of civilians in Georgia, why weren’t they worried about the attacks on villages in South Ossetia? How could the international community react when, despite all the international agreements — Russian peacekeepers were acting in South Ossetia in accordance with the agreement of 1992, signed by Georgia and South Ossetia -– Georgia directly targeted peacekeepers and civilians? Had Georgia expected peacekeepers to run away as they had in Srebrenica? The Russian Federation could not allow the civilian population in South Ossetia or peacekeepers to be attacked. It was not occupying South Ossetia, and its reaction had been appropriate. The question was whether the Georgian side was reasonable in its aggression.
The current situation had consequences not only in the region but also beyond, he continued, making an analogy with Kosovo, by pointing out that nobody had limited the definition of what had happened in Kosovo when the bombing of Belgrade had started. The Russian Federation rejected the suggestion of indiscriminate military action on its part. Reference had been made to a statement, allegedly by Russian prisoners, that they had supposedly been ordered to bomb indiscriminately. Such references were unacceptable in an open Council meeting, as was the reference by the representative of the United States regarding terror against civilians, particularly when his country’s own actions against the civilian populations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Serbia were known. “Let’s try to reach a serious political decision and not propaganda. Let’s not undertake propaganda activities at the Security Council.”
Turning to the Kodori Valley, he recalled that his delegation had on many occasions said that Abkhazia should come to the Council and explain its position. The Russian Federation had drawn attention to the unacceptable situation in the Kodori Valley, “so why are you surprised now?” Regarding the Black Sea fleet, it had started to patrol the coast and a note to that effect had been sent to the Georgian authorities. The aim was to protect Russian citizens and provide support to peacekeepers and humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in the zone of conflict. The Russian Federation aimed to establish a security zone and not to establish a maritime blockade. It was acting in accordance with its right to self-defence under the United Nations Charter.
He said he had heard a strange statement that the Russian Federation was refusing international efforts to settle the situation when, in fact, President Dmitry Medvedev had been talking with President George W. Bush, and the Foreign Minister had been on the phone with the Secretary of State. Russia was “explaining everything, listening to everybody”, including representatives of the European community. With respect to the Georgian representative’s surprise that the President of Russia had refused to talk to the President of Georgia, what reasonable person would agree to talk to him right now? Russia had repeatedly told Georgia that trying to resolve the situation through military means would be “suicide” for Georgia.
Nonetheless, contacts with the Georgian side had taken place, he added. In particular, there had been a conversation between the Russian Foreign Minister and his Georgian counterpart. A clear statement had been made regarding the ceasefire, and the Foreign Minister had stated that Georgia must withdraw from the territory of South Ossetia and state its readiness to sign an agreement on the non-use of force with South Ossetia. Further discussions could then take place, which would be difficult after Georgia’s adventurist undertaking. While Georgia had withdrawn, it was shooting at Russian soldiers. The serious approach would be for Georgia to state clearly that it was withdrawing from South Ossetia and sign an agreement on the non-use of force. “So let’s deal with this tragic situation in a serious way.” Serious decisions could be adopted immediately, first by Tbilisi, then by Russia and then by the international community.
——-
IMPORTANT NOTE: this appears to be a summary of the speech by Churkin, with some omissions and some paraphrase. The translation is also shaky. Still, you can get the basic drift from this speech (though only the video gives you the full punch of Churkin’s words).
The bottom line: Russia is fed up with the boundless arrogance and hypocrisy of the West and is determined to stand up for itself, even at the risk of irritating the Imperial Overlords which try to impose their rule on the entire planet.
Stay tuned, as soon as I find the time and energy I will write an analysis and commentary on this new Russian resolve which I consider to be the single most important development in international relations over the past 20 years.
The Saker
Here is a link to a press conference given by Vitaly Churkin. I am not certain if it was immediately after his speech in the video cited by VS. I am looking through the UN’s archives for the English translated version.
If you scroll down (just search for “Vitaly”) you can get a lengthy English summary of his statement here on the UN website.
@qwerty and jtapp:
Thanks friends, you guys are terrific! While my brain is slowly turning into mush you guys found the stuff I was looking for.
I am planning to write an analysis and commentary about all this, probably tomorrow, but I will post the Churkin statement tonight already.
This is, in my mind, just about the most important development in international relations in the past 2 decades or so. Simply put:
Russia is fed up and will take no more crap from the Empire.
Thanks for all the great coverage VS.
-AA
Give me a break. The US was suckered into Kosovo by the premie-Euros. It never should have happened. Ethnic cleansing on European soil is a European problem, not a NATO problem. Georgia apparently shelled Russian peacekeepers. This is Russian payback for a lot of things, but has relatively little to do with US support of a region struggling with democracy. The military aid Georgia receives has more to do with the WOT than any military support to a former Russian republic.
This is about control of resources, nothing more. You Euros should be watching this with horror, as Russia is demonstrating that it will do ANYTHING to keep control of its cash machine. You’re now sucking at the Russian gas nipple. Be warned.
2 Anonymous: yes of course, if someone is sucking someones milk, then the nipple-owner should take crap and follow orders from nipple-suckers! Yeah, what a bright comment!
Russia has a natural right to control its own resources. And if someone in Europe does not like it – find another supplier and stop whining. Nobody is forcing you to take Russian gas and oil. Buy Saudi oil!
Of course there is a rumor about Baku-Tbilisi-Djeyhan gas-pipe, which is going around Russian territory and Russians would love to cut it off, but Russians do not need it so urgently as USA needs to shit on Russians.
USA was training Georgian troops. Georgian troops are even wearning bright yellow military issue “made in USA” boots. Even, some military “advisors” were caught in South-Osetia, speaking only english. They are now being processed by Russian military and intelligence.
And again about nipple-sucking – get another nipple to suck!
Another source for new on South-Osetian conflict with ENG
http://evrazia.org
One more nice editorial description from a “Первый Канал”, a major TV channel in Russia:
“However”
“Russia has a natural right to control its own resources. And if someone in Europe does not like it – find another supplier and stop whining. Nobody is forcing you to take Russian gas and oil. Buy Saudi oil!”
Is that what you really want? The Oil and Gas Export business is what has allowed 21st-Century Russia to resurrect its military and economy. If the West suddenly pulled the plug, took 65% of Russia’s income via export away, what exactly would that do to The Motherland’s economy?
I find it amusing all the anti-West rhetoric which says we can’t complain about Russia today because we did X in the past and that was wrong. So the US invasion of Iraq on false premises to secure oil was wrong, but the Russian invasion of Georgia on tenuous premises to secure “their” resources is right? The Kosovo conflict was wrong, but the Georgia conflict is right because the US did it first? You seem to be arguing in support of a position you opposed in different circumstances, in other words exactly what you’re accusing everyone else of. How is that better? Did nobody learn from our mistakes, or do you have license to willingly make them again because we got to first?
The Empire is “out of control,” so the only solution is another Empire?
I’m not aware of anything military issue being bright yellow outside of NBC suits, which I doubt were being worn in this case. Sure, Georgia has much US equipment and was getting US training, but show me one conflict in the past 60 years where at least one side did NOT use Russian-sourced equipment and/or training.
2 anonymous: Afghanistan, Iraq? Russia did not train or supply equipment to these regimes.
Show me a conflict for past 10 years where USA did not put its own hands in?
Everybody is so happy to suckle on Russias’ oilgas nipple – but when it comes to Russia to control its’ own resources – everything is ablaze!
“Wtf Russia is controlling its’ own resources?! Russia must be punished for this!” – yeah, nice point.
Georgia initiated this conflict. Geogria will pay for this. It’s time Russia should finally tell other to f*** off!
The US-bashing is a pathetic attempt to steer blame for everything by the ignorant.
I wrote nothing of Russia not having a right to defend its soldiers. However, Ossetia is not Russian, but they want the pipeline under their control.
Russia was prepared for this counterattack (it was launched far too quickly).
It speaks volumes to Russian ambitions to control resources.
SO WHAT of english-speaking advisors in Georgia. It is a sovereign country. Are you unhappy they were not French? British? There were Israelis there, too. What of the Zionist menace? What, no comment? Only Evil Empire bashing today?
As far as Russia having a ‘right’ to control its resources, then I suppose that all of Eastern Europe is up for grabs, since your logic states whatever former Soviet Union satellite has something they want back, they have the ‘right’. Idiot.
The Baku pipeline is all about paying transit fees. The Russians are pissed it is bypassing their territory, as they lose control & the fees. Simple as that. Nothing to do with USA, moron.
Euro, as I stated prior, should be warned, lest your gas lines run dry in the cold of winter the next time you don’t tow the Russian line.
2 anonomous said…from your mindless comments you are clearly a “bushbot” and NWO scum sucker. As a US citizen, I would like to hear an explanation of why US troops are deployed on the Russian-Georgian border but not on the US-Mexican border to seal off the invasion of our own homeland by illegal immigrants. The US was not “suckered” into Kosovo OR Bosnia-Herzgovnia. The US along with NATO elitists “engineered” those conflicts and the “crimes against humanity” that accompanied those conflicts. Sadly, in the post Soviet world, most of these US/NATO political elitists, who were wetting their panties when facing the Soviets, are now brazenly…from their “safe” perches…trying to assert hedgemony world wide. So “anonomous said”, what we’re witnessing in Georgia is another reckless attempt by the NWO elitists to use US armed forces to further encircle and isolate Russia. There is no end to the insolence, audacity, deceit and treachery of these people as they now skirt the edges of WWIII. Pull your head out of your butt.