Týden v Evropském parlamentu
25.8. - 29.8.2008

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 2004 - 2009

Session document, 27.08.2008

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Council and Commission

pursuant to Rule 103(4) of the Rules of Procedure

by Elmar Brok, Othmar Karas, José Ignacio Salafranca, Charles Tannock, Jean-Pierre Audy

on behalf of the EPP-ED Group

on the situation in Georgia

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Georgia

The European Parliament

• having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia and, in particular, those of 26 October 2006, 29 November 2007 and 5 June 2008,
• having regard to its resolution of 17 January 2008 on a more effective EU policy for the South Caucasus; and its resolution of 15 November 2007 on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP),
• having regard to its previous resolutions on EU-Russia relations, particularly its resolution on the EU-Russia Summit of 19 June 2008,
• having regard to the General Affairs External Relations Council's Conclusions on the situation in Georgia of 13 August 2008,
• having regard to the Council Joint Action 2008/8539 of 9 June 2008 on the contribution of the European Union to the conflict settlement process in Georgia/South Ossetia and other previous Council Joint Actions on this same subject,
• having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

1. whereas on the night of Thursday 7 August 2008 forces of the Republic of Georgia launched a mass artillery assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, following it up with ground troops the next morning, trying to seize back control of the whole region after attacks on Georgian villages,
2. whereas on 8 August Russian forces entered South Ossetia and on 11 August extended their offensive into Georgia proper,
3. whereas on 12 August the Presidents of Georgia and Russia signed an agreement on the basis of the mediation efforts carried out by the EU providing for an immediate cease-fire, the withdrawal of Georgian and Russian forces to their positions prior to 7 August and the opening of international talks on an international mechanism to be set up rapidly in order to prepare for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict,
4. whereas on 19 August NATO suspended regular top-level ties with Russia saying that Russia's military action has been "disproportionate" and "inconsistent with its peacekeeping role in parts of Georgia" and that "business as usual" could not continue while Russian troops remain in Georgia,
5. whereas on 22 August Russia withdrew tanks, artillery and hundreds of troops from their most advanced positions in Georgia but still controls access to the port city of Poti, south of Abkhazia, and has established other checkpoints around South Ossetia,
6. whereas on 25 August, the Russia's Upper House of Parliament voted a resolution asking the President to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which, on 26 August, was followed by President Medvedev formally recognising the two regions as independent states,

1. Calls on Russia to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of the internationally recognised borders of the Republic of Georgia and therefore dismisses the recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as against international law;
2. Underlines that the partnership between Europe and Russia must be based on respect for the fundamental rules for European cooperation, upheld in action and not only in words;
3. Reiterates its firm belief in the principle that no country has a veto against the sovereign decision of another country or the right to destabilise a democratically elected government; raises therefore concern over the Russian aim to topple the democratically elected President Mikheil Saakashvili to be replaced with a President more favourable to the Russian Government;
4. Notes with concern that the Georgian Government's website and electronic communications system fell victim to Cyber attacks in the early stages of the invasion;
5. Expresses deep concern at the effect of Russian mines on the social and economic activity of Georgia, in particular with regard to the blowing up of a railway bridge near Kaspi on 16th August on the main rail link from Tbilisi to Poti and the explosion caused to the fuel train near Gori on 24th August carrying crude oil from Kazakhstan for export through Poti;
6. Condemns the continued facts of forced resettlement of Georgian population from their homes in Southern Ossetia even after the cease fire was agreed upon and calls on the Russian and South-Ossetian authorities to guarantee the return of those people;
7. Strongly urges Russia to honour all commitments of the ceasefire agreement reached and signed through the diplomatic efforts of the EU, beginning with the complete and immediate withdrawal of its troops from Georgia and the reduction of its military presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia to the Russian peacekeeping force deployed in both provinces before the conflict erupted; condemns the extensive looting perpetrated by the Russian invasion forces and the accompanying mercenaries;
8. Calls on the EU, NATO and its members to use on the basis of a common position all possibilities to convince Russian Government to abide by international law which is the necessary condition to play a responsible role in international community; reminds Russia of its responsibility as a UN veto power for a global order of peace;
9. Calls on Council and Commission to review its policy towards Russia including the future of the PCA negotiations in case Russia does not fulfil its commitments of the ceasefire agreement;
10. Calls on the EU Member States to review the issuing of visa for economic activities from South Ossetia and Abkhazia;
11. Calls on Council and Commission to show proof of greater political will in the conflict and especially towards Russia and not to be as reluctant to use the EU's political and economic power as they are at present;
12. Expresses its gratitude to the French EU Presidency for the achievement of a rapid ceasefire agreement;
13. Calls for a robust contribution of the European Union to the foreseen international mechanism for the resolution of the conflict, which should take the form of an ESDP mission with a strong civilian component to be part of a restructured and reinforced OSCE presence on the ground;
14. Calls for a rapid deployment of the international humanitarian efforts and demands that the European Union and its Member States allocate sufficient emergency funding for the victims of the crisis;
15. Calls on Commission, Council and member states to support rapidly the reconstruction of Georgia's infrastructures, including the military one;
16. Calls on all parties of the conflict to allow full and unfettered access of humanitarian assistance to victims, including refugees and internally displaced persons;
17. Calls for an independent international investigation into the alleged crimes committed by the parties in the conflict in Georgia;
18. Calls on Council and Commission to develop the European Neighbourhood Policy further by making it better adapted to the needs of our Eastern partners, including the strengthening of the EU involvement at the Black Sea, to take up the proposal of the European Parliament for a European Economic Area Plus or the Swedish-Polish proposal and to speed up in particular in relation to Georgia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova the establishment of a free trade zone and the liberalization of the EU visa policy ,
19. Calls on Council and Commission to convene a conference on the European Neighbourhood Policy in Tbilisi;
20. Calls on Council and Commission to get proactively involved in identifying new efficient mechanisms of solving conflicts in the area;
21. Calls on the Council and Commission to convene an international donor's conference for the reconstruction of Georgia, to examine the possibility for a major EU plan to support financially the rebuilding of the affected areas of Georgia and to assure a stronger political presence of the EU in the country as well as in the whole region;
22. Stresses the importance of Georgia to improve the EU energy security by providing alternative to the Russian way of energy transit; considers crucial to efficiently protect existing infrastructures such as BTC pipeline and calls the Commission to offer Georgia all necessary assistance to this end; expects a strong EU commitment in pursuing Nabucco pipeline project, recognized as a EU priority project that would cross Georgia's territory;
23. Underlines the importance of the EU-US relations on an equal basis for the security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and insists that a joint policy by the transatlantic partners is the most effective way to deal with problems that affect both sides of the Atlantic;
24. Recalls that at the Bucharest summit on 3 April 2008, NATO agreed that Georgia will become member of the Alliance and is of the opinion that Georgia remains on track to eventually join the Alliance;
25. Is of the opinion that the role of the EU in the current crisis could have been increased through a strengthening of the European foreign, defence and security policy and believes that the Treaty of Lisbon, including the creation of the position of the high Representative, the solidarity clause and the EU Energy Security Policy represent the right way to do this;
26. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Presidents and Parliaments of Georgia and the Russian Federation, NATO, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.