YouSaid · the spoken record

Imnadze

lines on the record: 240
first: 2013-08-06
most recent: 2022-03-08
sittings or episodes: 35
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The so-called treaties on alliance and strategic partnership or integration signed with the de facto authorities in Abkhazia and being prepared for signature shortly with the Tskhinvali region of South Ossetia are clearly directed against Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as they envisage further integration of the occupied regions into the Russian Federation in all spheres. The direst effects of these so-called treaties will include the reinforcement of the occupation line, which will undermine person-to-person contact and freedom of movement and, consequenrly, confidence-building between the communities. It will also seriously affect the situation of internally displaced persons and refugees by placing a permanent obstacle to the implementation of their right to safe and dignified return.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“These dividing lines did not appear naturally as the result of the local socioeconomic situation or cultural fabric; rather, they were artifically established through outside involvement, such as foreign occupation and the annexation of territories. Last year was especially dreadful for our region. Following the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, today Russia is taking further steps towards the annexation of Georgia's occupied territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region of South Ossetia.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Addressing the needs of the local population on both sides of the divide and improving the living conditions of communities that have been torn apart are important not only from a purely humanitarian View, but also from the human security and peacebuilding perspectives. On the subject of dividing lines and artificial barriers, I cannot fail to touch upon another important aspect, which is the negative foreign influence when addressing the challenges to efforts to achieve inclusive development. In today's world, no single country can be considered in isolation from others. As I mentioned at the beginning of this statement, in too many instances transnational challenges and negative foreign influences are important factors in creating domestic tensions, often resulting in dividing lines such as those witnessed in Georgia and Ukraine.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Cooperation, and in certain cases integration processes with international organizations play a special role in reconciliation and lasting conflict resolution. In this context, the European Union-Georgia Association Agreement and Association Agenda represent a special element. Georgia is seeking ways to share the benefits and opportunities resulting from the European Union-Georgia cooperation with the populations residing in the occupied regions. In this way, establishing open and human-centric policy is at the core of the peacebuilding process. In this context, one of the key directions of the work undertaken by the Government of Georgia has been to alleviate the consequences of the installation of barbed-wire fences and other physical barriers by the occupying forces in villages adjacent to the occupation line.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Engagement through cooperation, which is the State's strategy with regard to the occupied territories, includes in particular the provision of health-care services to the residents of the occupied territories; the establishment of advanced mechanisms to receive and continue education in the rest of Georgia and abroad; the maintenance of effective instruments, such as the status-neutral travel document, for exercising the freedom of movement; and support for and facilitation of confidence-building measures and people-to- people contact through meetings among professional communities, the training of experts and teachers, study visits, including to foreign countries, the updating of archive documents, and the improvement of knowledge about cultural heritage areas.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“My country, having over 20 per cent of its territory under illegal foreign occupation, remains committed to a peaceful, pragmatic, flexible and constructive course of action with a view to strengthening the policy of engagement with the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, and to providing a favourable environment for reconciliation and a comprehensive settlement.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Promoting stable societies in which there is no place for radicalization, violence and extremism; promoting universal respect for and compliance with the fundamental norms and principles of international law; and strengthening the rule of law at the national and international levels could provide a long-term strategic solution to these problems. As Georgia is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional nation, inclusive development is especially crucial for my country, and my Government is committed to doing as much as humanly possible to prevent the marginalization of its communities on any grounds, be they racial, ethnic, social, gender, religious, cultural or economic.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Indeed, the main challenges to the legitimacy and stability of nation States and governance of their societies lie in socioeconomic, gender, ethnic, tribal, religious and ideological tensions, and addressing those challenges in a timely manner at the domestic level is paramount to preventing threats at the international level. The United Nations, as the flagship of the international community, should take a leading role in conflict prevention, assisting Member States in dealing with transnational challenges and negative foreign influences, which represent some of the major factors that fuel internal conflicts in many countries that no single nation could tackle on its own.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“At the outset, I would like to join others in thanking the Chilean presidency for having brought this very important issue to our attention. I also thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Patriota; and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee for their comprehensive briefings, which provided good food for thought for our discussions. We fully share the holistic vision of international security, as proposed by the Chilean presidency, in which the three pillars of the United Nations system - peace and security, human rights and development - are closely interlinked.”
2015-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7361 (2015) · source
“Current developments in our region, including the tragic events in Ukraine, illustrate the importance of enhanced regional cooperation and mutual endeavours in ensuring security and preventing the escalation of tensions. In that context, we welcome the deployment of the OSCE special monitoring mission and the EU advisory mission for civilian security sector reform in Ukraine. We call for greater cooperation with the United Nations and regional organizations to ensure sustainable peace, justice, respect for human rights and development. We believe that regular consultations and coordination between the United Nations and regional organizations are indispensable in View of common development strategies.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Following the force generation conference on the EU Training Mission in Mali, two posts on a rotational basis with Montenegro and Portugal were attributed to Georgia. Georgia continues to explore other opportunities to participate in other missions, such as the European Union Mission on Regional Maritime Capacity- Building in the Horn of Africa. We hope that our efforts will be particularly beneficial to the EU-led operations and mission. At this stage, Georgia continues to look for ways to enhance its support to United Nations peacekeeping. Consultations are under way to identify relevant fields of Georgia's involvement in other United Nations operations.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We are maintaining 1,600 strong personnel and remain committed to Afghanistan's post- 2014 peaceful development. We believe that partnerships are increasingly important in peacekeeping. With that in mind, a framework agreement on Georgia's involvement in crisis-management operations under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy was concluded in Vilnius in November 2013. The agreement was put to good use only a few months after its signing; by contributing one light infantry company, Georgia has become the second largest contributor to the European Union-led peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic. Georgia has also applied and secured positions in another EU-led military operation in Africa.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Georgia remains committed to assuming an active part in the strengthening of international security in the region and worldwide through its contribution to peacekeeping operations. Georgia continues to further develop and upgrade its armed forces to ensure their full-fledged and more effective participation in peacekeeping and assistance missions, including those led by the United Nations. Our active participation in international peacekeeping operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan dates back to 1999. In 2005 and 2007, a Georgian battalion was included in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, where almost 600 Georgian soldiers defended United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. Today, Georgia is the largest non-NATO and per capita troop contributor to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Nonetheless, we deem the Monitoring Mission to be an essential guarantor of Georgia's security, with a key role to play in averting a deterioration of the situation on the ground. It also serves as a primary source of first-hand, unbiased information on the ongoing developments. The role of the EUMM. is increasing in View of the continuing process of the installation of barbed-wire fences and other artificial obstacles along the occupation line and other alarming developments. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to preserve and extend the Mission in future, as well as to ensure its access to occupied territories of Georgia. While a recipient of international support, Georgia also has extensive experience as a contributor to international security and stability.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Regrettably, that action created a dangerous precedent in United Nations history. The forcible termination of the UNNOMIG mandate, preceded by the end of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission, created a total vacuum of an international presence in the occupied regions of Georgia and turned them into black holes and "one of the most inaccessible places on Earth", as observed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Today, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) is the only international mechanism maintaining security and stability on the ground. Despite the repeated efforts of Georgia and the European Union (EU), the EUMM. continues to be denied access to the occupied regions and is thus unable to fully exercise its mandate throughout the territory of Georgia.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Peacekeeping is a vital instrument of the United Nations in containing conflict and helping countries emerging from crisis to pave the way to long-term stability and sustainability development. The complex and changing problems that peacekeeping faces requires concerted action by all stakeholders. We reiterate the critical importance of regional organizations in post-conflict peacebuilding, recovery, reconstruction and development, and the value of better interaction between regional organizations and various United Nations agencies. Beginning in 1993, the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) played a crucial role in contributing to peace and stability in my country by providing humanitarian response and mediation strategies. Unfortunately, the Mission came to an end in June 2009.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We look forward to positive and constructive steps ahead and the ongoing dialogue through the international Geneva talks, and possible bilateral ones, resolving the current impasse. Let me again stress the positive steps that Georgia has taken in our readiness to continue along that same path.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“The Chamber has witnessed discussions about Georgia and Russia not because of insinuations about Georgia, as was said, but owing to the fact that 20 per cent of my country is still under occupation. As for the cliches, let me say that Georgia has been continuously demonstrating a constructive approach and readiness for dialogue and cooperation. Allow me to state that my Government has established a special office under the Prime Minister of Georgia for dialogue with Russia. We are constructively involved in international talks in Geneva. Georgia has unilaterally pledged not to use force. Last but not least, the recent statement by the Georgian Prime Minister on his readiness for dialogue and a meeting with the Russian leadership and his Russian counterpart was, for his part, in anticipation of the Russian President's reciprocation.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Strengthening our common efforts to protect civilians in armed conflict has no alternative, and I would like to join other speakers in calling on all the relevant actors to ensure rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to conflict-affected populations worldwide. For our part, we stand ready to contribute to concerted international efforts to ensure more efficient protection of the civilian population.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Much of what I have just mentioned could have been averted if the international community had had a presence in the conflict area. Unfortunately, the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia was terminated following its blockage by a Security Council member in 2009. The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) is now the only international mission on the territory of Georgia. It plays a key role in averting the deterioration of the situation on the ground, but being denied the access to the occupied territories, the EUMM. cannot fully implement its mandate. I brought here the case of my country as yet another example of the urgent need to take concrete steps to alleviate the consequences of armed hostilities for civilians and to safeguard their rights and freedoms.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Furthermore, the installation of barbed wire fences and embankments and the so-called "movement detectors" by the occupation forces along the occupation line in the Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions of Georgia f in itselfa gross violation of fundamental human rights and illegal under international law - significantly affect the livelihoods of the local population by dividing families and communities, preventing people-to-people contacts that are essential in building confidence among communities. The local population - being fenced off from arable lands and grazing fields, potable and irrigation water systems and from local cemeteries - are now compelled to flee their places of residence, which creates a new wave of IDPs. We see this as a continuation of a deplorable practice of forcible demographic change.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“As I make this statement, 20 per cent of my nation's territory remains under Russia's illegal military occupation, and the number of refugees and IDPs is over 400,000. Despite serious concerns raised by the relevant United Nations agencies, hundreds of thousands of Georgian IDPs and refugees continue to be denied their internationally recognized right to return to their homes - a right reaffirmed on numerous occasions by the community of nations. The people residing in the occupied regions and in the adjacent areas are deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms, including the freedom of movement, family life, the right to education in their native language and other civil and economic rights.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors is essential not just for much- needed humanitarian aid, but also as an early-warning mechanism for assessment and evaluation of the human rights situation on the ground to avoid further deterioration of an already grave situation. Fifteen years have passed since the Security Council held its first open debate on this issue (see S/PV.4046). But while reflecting on our endeavours, we have to confess that innocent civilians continue to be the overwhelming majority of victims, deprived of existential necessities and basic human rights. Such is the reality in many corners of the world. It includes my country as well, which had to endure yet another wave of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as an aftermath of a military aggression from a neighbouring country a few years ago.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“At the outset, let me express our gratitude to the presidency of the Republic of Lithuania for organizing today's open debate and for the concept note (S/2014/74, annex) distributed earlier, which has significantly contributed to our deliberations today. Georgia fully associates itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union. In addition, I would like to make some comments in my national capacity. One of the purposes of the debate today is to see the United Nations more engaged in addressing all the relevant challenges. Therefore, the ability of the international community to monitor and assess the human rights situation in the areas where the authorities ofa given State cannot exercise their sovereign rights is of the utmost importance.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Strengthening our common efforts to protect civilians in armed conflicts is our responsibility, which is fully realized by every member of the United Nations family. We need to take concrete and tangible steps to alleviate the consequences of armed hostilities on civilians and to safeguard their rights and freedoms. I would like to once again subscribe to the European Union statement and to call on all the relevant actors in ongoing armed conflicts and hostilities to ensure rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations. For its part, Georgia stands ready to contribute to concerted international efforts and ensure more effective protection of civilian populations during armed conflicts and in the post-conflict phase, while also siding with the global effort towards peace and security.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“The paramount problem - clearly stressed by the European Union - concerns the importance of safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to the conflict- affected population. The Government of Georgia urges the relevant party to grant unimpeded access by humanitarian organizations to the conflict-affected population residing in the Georgian regions under its control. We believe that humanitarian issues should not be used as instruments for political considerations, but should be implemented purely on the basis of humanitarian needs. The relevant international actors must be allowed to carry out their activities according to their respective mandates. International humanitarian law prescribes the threshold for the minimum level of protection for the civilian population; that needs to be respected by all.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“After the unilateral blocking of the mandate of the United Nations monitoring mission in Georgia in 2009, the vacuum in terms of international presence has not been overcome. As a result of artificially imposed obstacles, the European Union Monitoring Mission, the only international mission on the territory of Georgia, lacks the ability to thoroughly implement its mandate and monitor the security and human rights situation inside the regions of Georgia. In those circumstances, to comply with the human rights law, a party exercising effective control has the primary responsibility to provide such protection of human rights, and accountability for violations in the case of their infringement.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“People residing within the Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions of Georgia and in the adjacent areas are deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms, including, but not limited to, the freedom of movement, the right to receive education in their mother tongue, and other civil and economic liberties. Sadly, the drastic regulations imposed for crossing the occupation lines and heavy restrictions on the freedom of movement extend even to the most vulnerable of the population seeking immediate medical assistance. Another vital matter pertains to the ability of the international community to assess and monitor the human rights situation in the areas where the central Government is denied its sovereign rights and that are under foreign effective control and military presence.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“Five years after the war, unfortunately, the unresolved conflict continues to exacerbate the already fragile humanitarian situation, and it affects the everyday lives of the local population. The Government of Georgia is extremely concerned about the humanitarian and human rights consequences of the installation of barbed-wire fences and embankments in the Tskhinvali and Abkhazia regions, a process that has been intensified since January. As a result, local residents were compelled to leave their permanent places of residence, thereby creating a new wave of internally displaced persons and refugees.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“In spite of the comprehensive efforts of the Government of Georgia to alleviate the burden of the displaced, the failure of a relevant actor to recognize their inalienable right to return prevents any sustainable solution. Furthermore, that creates an obstacle to the implementation of international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law, not only in Georgia, but worldwide. The continuous endeavours of the Geneva international discussion co-chairs, among them the representative of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Antti Turunen, and other United Nations actors who aimed to remedy the humanitarian challenges, have been repeatedly undermined. Those endeavours, which the Government of Georgia highly values, still require continuous political support and practical assistance from the United Nations community.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“The problem of the protection of civilians in armed conflict and from its consequences is especially painful for my country, as five years after the Russia-Georgia war it continues to suffer from the effects of the armed conflict imprinted on lives of hundreds of thousands of Georgian citizens. In spite of numerous international calls, emanating, inter alia, from the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on the subject of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, and notwithstanding the serious concerns raised by the relevant United Nations agencies, hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees continue to be deprived of their internationally recognized right to return to their homes in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“Today, unfortunately, the urgent nature of this issue is underscored by the ongoing tragic developments in the Middle East and other places of the world. While reflecting on the importance of our endeavours, we have to confess that millions ofpeople worldwide suffer from armed conflict and its consequences, are deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms, separated from their families and expelled from their places of permanent residence. In that context, the role of the international community is crucial in undertaking immediate and concrete actions to protect lives of civilians and ensure their basic rights.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“Let me start by mentioning that Georgia fully associates itself with the statement by the observer the European Union. Allow me to add some comments in my national capacity. First of all, I, too, would like to join in expressing sympathy to the families of the victims and to remember those who fell to the terrorist attack against United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on this sad anniversary day: Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, Ms. Nadia Younes, Mr. Jean-Selim Kanaan and others. Let me express my gratitude for this timely opportunity to address the issue of the protection of civilians in armed conflict and, more important, to consider ways to increase the effectiveness of the United Nations community in that regard.”
2013-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7019 (2013) · source
“In that context, we deem the United Nations continuous support to be vital in assisting regional organizations in facilitating and solidifying the process of regional sustainability.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source
“We are confident that this format provides solid ground for further developing the cooperation between the United Nations, the OSCE and the EU on security issues through thejoint participation of the United Nations and the OSCE in both of the Mechanisms mentioned. Unfortunately, given certain obstacles, the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism in Gali has been deadlocked since April 2012, but we are confident that our common diplomatic efforts will be successful in resuming this Mechanism. Regional organizations play an important role in the development of regional cooperation, conflict prevention, the peaceful settlement of disputes, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source
“While talking about regional cooperation, I would like to underline the United Nations active cooperation with the EU and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to ensure sustainable security on the European continent. For Georgia, that interaction acquires a particular importance within the Geneva international discussions through active co-chairmanship of the format. We highly appreciate the mediation that the United Nations and its team provide between Russia and Georgia. We believe that the restoration of the full-fledged mission on the territory of Georgia and its regions would redouble the United Nations contribution to preserving security and stability in Georgia and the wider region. We value the United Nations key role and its cooperation with the EU within the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source
“as a format that reinforces the position of individual member States in the network of international relations. In addition, Georgia is focused on facilitating sectoral cooperation by implementing mutually beneficial projects within GUAM. in the economic, energy, transportation and other spheres, as well as enhancing cooperation with major partners of the organization in GUAM+ formats, such as GUAM- United States and GUAM-Japan. The activation of the interparliamentary dimension is also one of the main priorities of the chairmanship of Georgia, as this direction undoubtedly has a potential for further evolution, giving a significant impetus to democratic development within the GUAM. area.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The resolution envisages deepening cooperation between the two international organizations and places such cooperation within an appropriate institutional framework. The adoption of that text was important in terms of increasing the involvement of the United Nations specialized agencies within the GUAM. area in such fields as anti-terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, integrated border management and so on. The adoption of the resolution by consensus clearly demonstrated the importance that States Members of the United Nations attach to enhancing cooperation with GUAM, which we highly value. Under the current chairmanship of GUAM, Georgia's priority is to promote political interaction between the GUAM. States. We have a very close, if not coinciding, set of foreign policy priorities, and therefore consider GUAM.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Fifteen years of active work have shaped GUAM into a full-fledged regional organization with a well-established institutional infrastructure. This organization unites countries with common interests and challenges and gives us a unique opportunity to speak out in unison on a number of pressing issues of common concern. The global political landscape has opened new horizons for cooperation and created stronger incentives for joint actions within GUAM. The ever-changing international environment, new challenges and opportunities have led us to develop an even closer interaction within and beyond the organization. In that light, I would like to stress the importance of resolution 67/109, adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2012, on cooperation between the United Nations and GUAM.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source
“At the outset, let me underline that Georgia aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of the European Union (EU). Allow me now to make a brief intervention in my national capacity. First of all, I would like to express our gratitude to Argentina, as the current presidet of the Security Council, for this excellent opportunity to discuss the regional aspect of security and the significant assistance provided by the United Nations to regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security. In this context, allow me to highlight the excellent cooperation developed between the United Nations and the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development-GUAM, as well as the priorities of Georgia as Chair State of the GUAM. in 2013.”
2013-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7015Resumption1 (2013) · source