Reports on Russia / Georgia - Dan Patterson Reports From the UN

Updated audio and video reports from the United Nations on the Georgia / Russia conflict.





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UN Aid Responds to Russia / Georgia Humanitarian Crisis

Various UN agencies are launching relief operations. In response to a request from Georgia, the World Food Program has launched a 10-day ration program designed to facilitate immediate relief to more than 2,000 displaced residents of the capitol Tbilisi. Relief efforts to people outside the capitol are underway, though they have been restricted by Russian bombing. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees is sending relief efforts in an attempt to stockpile aid, and is preparing for continued violence. 20,000 blankets and other essentials are being flown from the UN Commission on Refugees stockpile in Dubai tonight- the second flight is planned for Wednesday. These flights will contain enough relief supplies for 30,000 people. There are reports that up to 80% of the population of the town of Gori has fled. (1:08)
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UN Security Council Reacts to Georgia / Russia Conflict

The Security Council met on Saturday and Sunday to discuss the situation in Georgia. The Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B Lynn Pascoe, has acknowledged that the UN had no first-hand information of the situation on the ground at that time. However Pascoe did state that the UN resident coordinator in Georgia has recommended that all UN personnel evacuate; at that moment, no international staff had actually left. The UN reports a military build-up in Abkhazia and bombings in the town of Gori, and as a result of the increased bombings, the UN has scaled down its operations to only essential functions. (0:55)
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Secretary-General Responds to Military Conflict in Georgia

Late on Saturday night the Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon issued a statement on the current situation in Georgia, expressing his "alarm at the escalation of hostilities" between Georgia and Russia and voicing his concern that violence will spread beyond the South Ossetia zone of Georgia. He is particularly concerned about rising tensions in the Abkhazia region, urging "maximum restraint", as well as the safety and security of unarmed UN military observers. The Secretary-General is calling for an immediate halt to military actions, and urges both parties to work towards a peaceful settlement. (0:40)
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Full Statement From Georgia Regarding Violence in Ossetia

At the UN Security Council today Mr. Irakli Alasania, Representative to the United Nations from Georgia, justified Georgia's recent attack on a Russian tank convoy in the South Ossetia region. "Georgia as an responsible state has the obligation to protect our population," said Mr. Alasania. He then challenged Russia to "sit down at the negotiating table." (4:54)
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Georgia Expresses Desire For Diplomacy

Mr. Irakli Alasania expresses Georgian desire to have "direct contacts and negotiate" with Russia regarding the recent violence in South Ossetia. (0:19)
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Full Statement from the Russian Federation Regarding Georgia

Full statement from Mr. Vitaly Churkin regarding the recent flare-up in violence between Georgia and Russia. (3:40)
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Russia States Their "Diplomatic Goals" Regarding Georgia

Russia Responds to the United Nations Security Council's deliberations on Georgia. Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, Vitaly Churkin, states that Russia's role regarding Georgia is "purely diplomatic and political." (0:19)

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UN Security Council Holds Emergency Meetings on Georgia Violence

The United Nations is reporting that thousands of Georgian refugees are fleeing the area known as South Ossetia.  According to the UN, over two dozen people have been killed, and close to a thousand people have been forced to leave their homes.

The United Nations Security Council responded to the rapidly-changing situation in Georgia late last night.  The Council held emergency deliberations in response to Georgian aggression on Russian military convoys in the territory known as South Ossetia.  The Security Council created a draft statement, but it has as of yet not been adopted.

Georgia has expressed a strong independent spirit for more than two decades.  Fighting between Russian and Georgia broke out in 1991 over territorial disputes, and was sustained for 18 months.  A tentative cease-fire held until 2004, and intermittent periods of violence have flared up ever since.  The recent violence stems from claims by Georgia that a Russian tank convoy rolled through the Ossetia region, violating Georgia's sovereignty.  Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has called the Georgia's attacks as a "deep violation of international law."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern about the violence.  According to the Spokesperson For the Secretary-General, the SG is currently being briefed on the situation in full.  Both Barack Obama and John McCain have called for the Russians to use restraint.  The Security Council will resume talks about Georgia this afternoon.

Listen to the Spokesperson For the Secretary-General Briefing on Georgia. (1:43)
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