US Ambassador Khalilzad: "We cannot be indifferent to the brutality of these attacks"

United States ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed a desire to retain positive relations with Russia, but stressed that the violence must stop. Mr. Khalilzad also stated that a draft resolution will circulate in the Security Council, and it's passage depends entirely on Russia (5:00)
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Security Council President Briefs Press on Continuing Georgia Russia Violence

The President of the United Nations Security Council, Mr. Jan Grauls, discussed the status of the Security Council discussions on Russia / Georgia violence. (2:03)
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French Ambassador Urges Diplomacy Between Georgia and Russia

French ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, pledged support of the European Union, but urged diplomacy. (4:04)
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BREAKING: Passage of Georgia Resolution Dependent on Russia, Khalilzad Says

Listen to Audio Report as Security Council Reports on Georgia Russia Violence (3:01)





- Georgia called for the Security Council to take the situation very seriously, recalling the failed League of Nations should the Security Council fail to act
- France, president of the European Union, reiterated Europe's solidarity with Georgia, and called for an immediate stop to violence
- France called for territorial respect and attention to Georgia's sovereignty
- However, France stated repeatedly that the Security Council does not "act in a vacuum"
- France repeatedly called for diplomacy and reiterated that the Security Council is "not a place for conflict"
- Khalilzad, US ambassador to the UN, stated that the Security Council asked fundamental questions to Russia: intent to target civilians, intent to target Georgian president, intent to overthrow Georgia- As of yesterday, Khalilzad said, Russia had no reply
- Khalilzad stated that attacks have intensified and spread
- Khalilzad stated that the longer the attacks persist, the more damage done to US/Russia relations
- A resolution has been drafted, and according to Khalizad it's passage is entirely dependent on Russia
- US does not want to damage relations with Russia, but "we cannot be indifferent to the brutality of these attacks"
- Khalilzad continued, "we are united in our objective that Georgia must be restored"
- Russian Ambassador stated that two two states will love together as two sovereign entities, but questioned Georgia's ability to live with the breakaway province of South Ossetia
- Churkin "US Russia relations are not our responsibility"
- Russia denied targeting Georgian President
- At this time, Russia has refused to pull troops out from Georgia

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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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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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UN Security Council Votes 15 - 0 to Extend Mission in Iraq

In a vote that surprised no one, the United Nations Security Council voted today to extend the UN mission in Iraq by another 12 months.

Violence in Iraq is diminishing, and the country continues to seek regional support.  Iraqi Ambassador Hamid Al Bayati was pleased by the Security Council's vote, and expressed his desire to work with "all [regional] parties," and refused to eliminate Iran from a list of potential allies.

US Ambassador Zalmay Kahlilzad discusses the UN mandate extension.  (2:47)

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UN Security Council Members Speak On Zimbabwe

Members of the United Nations Security Council spoke today regarding the on-going electoral crisis in Zimbabwe.  The audio is linked below.

Current Security Council President, United States Ambassador Zalmay Kahlilzad described the current climate of Security Council discussion.  Ambassador Kahlizad also explained the difficulties, from a US perspective, of a consensus decision within the Security Council.  He described the need for both a carrot and a stick when dealing with current Zimbabwe President Mugabe.  Kahlilzad added that "we need to add pressure" to the current government.

The Permanent Representative from the United Kingdom, John Sawyers, discussed the range of views within the Security Council.  He emphasized, however, that there is a "widespread view that the Council cannot do nothing."

South African Permanent Representative Dumisani Shadrack Kumalo discussed how he cannot imagine sanctions as an effective stick when dealing with the brutality of Mugabe.  Representative Kumalo also explained that while the international community may see the Zimbabwe crisis as a threat to regional and gloal stability, the African Union disagrees.  The AU, according the Representative Kumalo, is affraid of an over-exertion of Security Council power.
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Sudan twisting UN resolutions

Mia Farrow, the chairwoman of Dream for Darfur, says that the Sudanese government is twisting Security Council resolutions and expresses hope that the United States will help to add more African troops in the region. (0:39)
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