Georgians warn of unrest in rebel region
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Daily News with wires
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 17, 2009 00:00
TBILISI - Georgia on Tuesday warned that Russia's veto of the extension of a U.N. mission in Abkhazia would fuel unrest and accused it of trying to hide "ethnic cleansing" in the Moscow-backed separatist enclave. Russia on Monday vetoed an extension of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia, or UNOMIG, ending its activities after 16 years, citing its opposition to Georgian sovereignty over the rebel region.
The vote coincided with clashes Monday between Georgian police and opposition activists pressing for the ouster of President Mikhail Saakashvili in the capital of Tbilisi. Officials said dozens of protesters were arrested and an Associated Press photographer saw masked officers armed with truncheons beating demonstrators, several TV journalists and camera crews. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who had recommended keeping the mission, said it would cease operations Tuesday despite his "regrets" at the lack of agreement that prompted its abrupt demise.
"This mission was helping defuse tension and deter further conflict," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "Its withdrawal will affect the day-to-day lives of people living in conflict areas."
"By ending UNOMIG Russia removed the international community's final instrument designed for maintaining peace and stability in Abkhazia, Georgia," the Georgian foreign ministry said in a statement. Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said Russia was seeking to legitimize its "occupation" of Abkhazia by vetoing an extension of the mission, which expired on Monday.
"Russia does not need witnesses to register the results of ethnic cleansing, Russia does not need monitors and observers to register their daily crimes and Russia does not need any international presence because Russia is in principle against international law," he said, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.
"This mission was helping defuse tension and deter further conflict," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "Its withdrawal will affect the day-to-day lives of people living in conflict areas."
"By ending UNOMIG Russia removed the international community's final instrument designed for maintaining peace and stability in Abkhazia, Georgia," the Georgian foreign ministry said in a statement. Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said Russia was seeking to legitimize its "occupation" of Abkhazia by vetoing an extension of the mission, which expired on Monday.
"Russia does not need witnesses to register the results of ethnic cleansing, Russia does not need monitors and observers to register their daily crimes and Russia does not need any international presence because Russia is in principle against international law," he said, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.