Topic: Georgian-Russian missile incident
Georgia has submitted a cease-fire note to Russia and appealed to the United States for help and called on Rice to mediate.
? Gori, the military center of Georgia, became the target of Russian attack. Many houses were on fire, and a woman fled in panic.
Russian troops marched in a valley in South Ossetia.
On the street of Gori, a man cried with his dead relatives in his arms.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on the 9th that the only way to calm the conflict in South Ossetia is for Georgia to withdraw its troops immediately.
Georgia said on the 10th that it had begun to withdraw its troops from South Ossetia.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all parties to the Georgian conflict to immediately stop hostilities and settle their disputes peacefully at the UN headquarters in new york on the 9th. The Security Council met for the third time on the same day to discuss the conflict in South Ossetia, but still failed to reach an agreement on the text of the statement.
The United States and the European Union called for an immediate ceasefire. The United States criticized Russia for "excessive" use of force.
The two sides are still fighting fiercely.
The fighting between Russia and Georgia in South Ossetia continued on the 10th. At present, Russian peacekeeping forces control most parts of Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, and are engaged in fierce fighting with Georgian troops in the suburbs. Georgia announced on the 10th that it would stop military operations from now on.
Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of staff of the Russian army, said at a news conference held in Moscow on the 10th that Russian peacekeeping forces have now controlled most areas of Tskhinvali and Georgian troops are on the defensive. While constantly withdrawing from the urban area, the Georgian army began to assemble reserve troops. The Russian Air Force will attack the second echelon of the Georgian army, but it will not attack Georgian non-military facilities and cities.
Nogovitsyn also said that the Russian 58th Army, which had entered South Ossetia to help Russian peacekeeping forces, was shelled by Georgian troops, and the commander of the Army, Khrulev, was injured and hospitalized, and his life was not in danger at present. The 58th Army is now under the command of the Deputy Commander.
Russia says Georgia is making a comeback
The headquarters of peacekeeping forces in South Ossetia said on the 10th that Georgian troops currently have 7,400 soldiers, 100 tanks and an unknown number of artillery in Tskhinvali region. The Georgian army continued to shoot at the targets in the city. The situation in South Ossetia is still tense, and the two sides of the conflict "have not negotiated or reached any agreement".
On the 10th, Itar-Tass quoted Lomaya, secretary of the Georgian Security Council, as saying that due to Russian bombing of Tskhinvali on the evening of the 9th and the early morning of the 10th, Georgian government forces were redeployed and occupied positions near Tskhinvali.
According to the Itar-Tass news agency reported on the 10th, the Georgian Foreign Ministry submitted a diplomatic note to the Russian Embassy in Georgia on the same day to stop military operations from August 10th. The Russian Foreign Ministry subsequently said that it had received a note from Georgia on the ceasefire in South Ossetia, but Georgian troops have not stopped their military operations in South Ossetia.
Georgia withdrew from the war zone
Georgian President mikhail saakashvili made a speech on the 9th, calling for an immediate ceasefire. He also criticized Russia for trying to "destroy" Georgia.
"Russia launched an all-out military attack on Georgia," Saakashvili said. "An operation to destroy Georgia is underway."
Georgian State Minister for Unification Affairs responsible for mediating the conflict between Abkhazia and South Ossetia Timur Yakobashvili said on the morning of 10th that Georgian troops had withdrawn from Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia.
Alexander Lomaya, secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council, held a telephone press conference with the media later that day, saying that Georgian troops had "almost left South Ossetia". He said that Georgia has asked US Secretary of State condoleezza rice to mediate the conflict. Georgia has close ties with the United States and hopes to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister grigori Carracin said that Russia needs to verify Georgian claims.
Bombing the military airport in Georgia’s capital and assembling troops in another separatist region.
Russia opens up a second front?
The conflict between Russia and Georgia around South Ossetia is becoming increasingly fierce. Three huge explosions were heard in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on the morning of the 10th. Senior Georgian officials said that Russian warplanes bombed the military airport on the outskirts of Tbilisi and assembled troops in Abkhazia, another separatist region of Georgia, showing signs of opening a second front.
According to British and other media reports, Georgian Interior Ministry official Uashvili said: "Three bombs landed in a military airport, causing damage to the airport runway, but there were no casualties." Uashvili said that the airport belongs to a military factory that produces Su -25 fighters.
He said that in the past few hours, Russia has dispatched 6,000 troops to Georgia and sent another 4,000 troops to Abkhazia by sea. Russian troops are preparing to attack at dawn. He said: "They are waiting for the dawn to start offensive operations, and Georgia is facing a humanitarian disaster."
Senior Georgian officials said on the 10th that Russian naval vessels had entered Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia.
Alexander Lomaya, secretary of the Georgian National Security Council, said, "Russian warships have arrived at the port of Ochamchira, Abkhazia.
Earlier, it was reported that an unnamed official in the State Council revealed on the 9th that the United States had learned that Russia planned to transfer some warships of its Black Sea Fleet to Abkhazia on the grounds of protecting the safety of its nationals. However, the official did not disclose the position of the United States on this move by Russia.
According to reports, Georgian President Saakashvili said on the 9th that Georgia repelled the attack launched by Abkhaz armed forces on Georgian troops in the Kodori Gorge that day.
Kodori Gorge is located in the conflict zone of Abkhazia, Georgia. Abkhazia is an autonomous Republic of Georgia, bordering on southern Russia. In July 1992, Abkhazia declared its independence on its own, which triggered an armed conflict. After mediation by Russia and the international community, Georgia and Albania signed a ceasefire agreement in Moscow in May 1994, and then Russian troops entered Abkhazia in the name of the CIS peacekeeping force. Wang Hui
feature article
Georgian people line up to donate blood on the streets.
Since independence in 1991, Georgians have become accustomed to the turbulent political environment. However, after witnessing the raging flames in the city where they live, residents fled the capital Tbilisi, and Gori, a city near the border region of South Ossetia, suffered heavy casualties. Residents were frightened and felt very scared about the war.
In one of the cities, Gori, which was bombed and bombarded by Russian troops, a large number of ambulances shuttled back and forth on the street to take the injured to the hospital. Many residents immediately fled to other areas for temporary shelter, and many residents decided to stay and defend their homes.
Batamanishvili, 18, said: "My mother and sister have left Gori, but I decided not to leave. This is my Georgia! I love Georgia! " He also said, "I will sign up for the army tomorrow."
Gori is the closest city to the South Ossetia border region, the military center of Georgia and the largest city in the country, which naturally becomes the target of Russian attacks. Images broadcast by local TV stations showed that many houses were on fire and bodies were lying everywhere in the street.
Russian warplanes carried out at least three air strikes on the town and surrounding areas on the 9th, targeting bridges and several military bases.
Affected by the war, the wireless telephone system in Gori city was interrupted, and residents could not contact their relatives and friends with their mobile phones. In the largest hospital in the city, many people gathered to inquire about the news of injured relatives and friends, and some people shed tears. A man’s wife was injured and was being rescued. He said excitedly, "What is the government thinking? Have you ever thought about us? "
In the capital Tbilisi, there are long queues outside several blood banks, and a large number of enthusiastic people come to wait for blood donation. Some people have been waiting for more than three hours and insist on waiting. A teenager asked for blood donation, but the nurse refused because he was only 15 years old and not old enough.
Tbilisi remained generally calm on the 9th, but the streets were deserted and deserted. Nina, who works as a cashier in a supermarket, said, "We are worried that the bombing in Russia will spread throughout Georgia." comprehensive
? Two thousand civilians were killed and thirty thousand refugees fled.
According to a report by RIA Novosti on the 10th, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Churkin told the press on the 9th that all Russian military operations belong to the category of peacekeeping missions, and their scope is limited to South Ossetia.
Churkin said that the invasion of South Ossetia by Georgian troops in the early morning of the 8th resulted in serious damage to Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, and a total of 34,000 refugees fled. The South Ossetian authorities said that the Georgian military operations killed 2,000 civilians and 12 Russian peacekeepers, and injured more than 150 Russian peacekeepers.
Boldyrev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Army, said that at present, Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, has been completely destroyed, water and electricity have been cut off in the city, all hospitals and kindergartens have been bombed, and many children have been killed.
? Russian position Medvedev accused Georgian president
According to Russian media reports, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on the 10th that those who commit crimes against civilians in South Ossetia will be punished, including taking criminal responsibility. He will order the military prosecutor’s office to initiate an investigation into crimes in South Ossetia. Mironov, chairman of the Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament), said on the 9th that Russia firmly demands that Georgian President Saakashvili be held criminally responsible for waging war crimes.
Putin attacked Georgia’s "ethnic cleansing"
Putin arrived in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, on the 9th to visit South Ossetian refugees who fled here.
He criticized the Georgian army for "ethnic cleansing" in South Ossetia, saying that it was "completely legal" for the Russian army to counterattack the Georgian army.
"Georgia launched a bloody military adventure, hoping to drag other countries into the conflict and take the opportunity to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization," Putin said. "We call on the Georgian authorities to immediately stop attacking South Ossetia."
Putin said that from August 2 to 9, as many as 34,000 refugees entered Russia from South Ossetia. The Georgian authorities have dealt a fatal blow to their territorial integrity. It is hard to imagine that after all this, South Ossetia will be willing to become a part of the Georgian state.
International reaction
The United States will not provide military assistance for the time being.
On the same day, US President George W. Bush telephoned Medvedev to discuss the situation in South Ossetia.
Bush called Russia’s attack on targets in Georgia "dangerous" and called on Russia to stop air strikes immediately.
Medvedev said that the conflict was caused by Georgia, so Georgian troops must withdraw first.
A senior American official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters that Russia used excessive force against Georgia.
The official said that Russia used a strategic bomber with a bomb load of 54,000 pounds (24.5 tons) to launch ballistic missiles at Georgia, "far beyond the appropriate range".
However, the official ruled out the possibility of the United States providing military assistance to Georgia at this stage. He also believes that Russia obviously does not want to see Georgia become a member of NATO, so it took the opportunity to severely punish Georgia. "From the perspective of Russia, this is understandable, but the United States cannot accept it."
At the same time, the EU issued a statement on the same day, calling on Russia to respect Georgia’s sovereignty. The statement said that Russia’s attack on Georgia "may affect the relationship between the EU and Russia".
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will go to the conflict area and put forward the EU’s proposal to resolve the conflict.
Security Council negotiations are deadlocked.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in South Ossetia, the Security Council has met twice to discuss this matter, but it has not been able to reach an agreement. The Security Council held consultations again on the afternoon of the 9th, but still failed to make any statement.
Jean Graule, the rotating president of the Security Council this month and the Belgian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, held separate consultations with all parties. However, he said after the meeting that it was difficult for the Security Council to reach an agreement on the conflict in South Ossetia in order to issue a statement, given the latest developments and differences of opinion within the Security Council.
The draft statement, drafted by the Belgian side, called on all parties to "exercise restraint and avoid further use of force".
Vitaly Churkin, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that he thought it was difficult for the Security Council to adopt a "meaningful" statement at this time. He demanded that Georgia immediately withdraw from South Ossetia and sign a document that promised not to use force in South Ossetia.
Although the Security Council could not reach an agreement, the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on the 9th, saying: "The Secretary-General calls on all parties to immediately stop hostilities and seek a peaceful solution through negotiations without delay."
Ban Ki-moon said that in order to solve the South Ossetia issue, all armed parties without authorization from relevant agreements should leave the conflict zone immediately.
French foreign minister will stop in Russia
France, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, announced on the 9th that French Foreign Minister Kouchner will rush to Russia and Georgia as soon as possible to propose a solution to the crisis to both sides.
The French Presidential Palace said that President Sarkozy proposed a three-point solution to the crisis, including the immediate cessation of hostilities, full respect for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the restoration of the local situation before the conflict.
In a TV interview on the evening of the 9th, Kouchner said that Russian troops should retreat to their bases, while Georgia should restore the previous situation. He pointed out that this is a terrible war that suddenly broke out because of trivial matters, and the conflict should be stopped.
News analysis
The essence of the conflict is the dispute between the United States and Russia, and NATO’s eastward expansion is the fuse.
Once Russia and Georgia went to war, they immediately stopped fighting, which reflected the complicated political background behind the South Ossetia issue.
The victim of the great power struggle
The South Ossetia issue reflects the opposition between national sovereignty and national self-determination. As we all know, South Ossetia is an autonomous prefecture of Georgia, bordering North Ossetia of Russia and having close relations with Russia. South Ossetia, demanding independence, had an armed conflict with the Georgian central government in the early 1990s. Since 1992, Russia, Georgia, North Ossetia and South Ossetia have formed the Quadripartite Mixed Monitoring Committee for the settlement of the conflict in South Ossetia, and the mixed peacekeeping forces composed of Russia, Georgia and South Ossetia have begun to carry out peacekeeping missions in conflict areas.
Because Georgia was dissatisfied with Russia’s position on South Ossetia, it changed its course and moved closer to the west. Especially in the late 1990s, when Russia was declining, the CIS lost its centripetal force because of "more independence and less alliance". The relationship between Georgia and the West is getting closer and closer. Georgia keeps putting pressure on Russia and reciprocates the western countries led by the United States. Recently, it has been reported that the United States is ready to admit Ukraine and Georgia into NATO. In this regard, the new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a warning this year, claiming that if Georgia joins NATO, it will lead to more bloody conflicts between the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia and South Ossetia Autonomous Prefecture. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed: "If Georgia thinks that joining NATO can calm the conflict, it can only be an illusion. Georgia’s accession to NATO can only bring more bloody conflicts. "
It can be seen that there are two great powers, the United States and Russia, behind the South Ossetia issue. Obviously, on the issue of South Ossetia, the United States supports Georgia’s position of clearing the rebellion in South Ossetia, while Russia is opposed. The different attitudes and positions of the United States and Russia have intensified the contradictions. The eastward expansion of NATO is the fuse of the military conflict in South Ossetia. Russia’s traditional sphere of influence is being squeezed by the United States.
America is the biggest winner.
First of all, the worst loss is naturally Georgia. Georgia launched a military strike against South Ossetia on the eve of the Olympic Games, resulting in a large number of civilian and peacekeeper deaths and injuries, which was condemned by the international community. Needless to say, it is even more difficult for South Ossetia to return to Georgia after this ordeal.
Followed by South Ossetia, casualties, the destruction of the capital, I am afraid that the hope of the reunification and independence of South and North Ossetia will become even more slim.
The third is Russia. Due to the warning information released by the Russian high-level officials, Russia is suspected of being a planner in this incident and is inevitably suspected by the international community. Moreover, after all this noise, Georgia is likely to speed up the pace of joining NATO.
Of course, there are still some beneficiaries. The United States is the biggest beneficiary. The reason for the United States to enter Transcaucasia is more sufficient, and the conflict in South Ossetia will also prompt Georgia and Ukraine to accelerate their entry into the sphere of influence dominated by the United States. Moreover, this time, the United States has abandoned the political logic that the right of national self-determination is greater than national sovereignty, which is difficult for the international community to refute. On the contrary, Russia holds double standards on Chechnya and South Ossetia, but it is easy to give orders to others.
Internationalization of regional issues
Before Georgia was serious, the border between South Ossetia and Georgia was separated by a 15-kilometer-long and 14-kilometer-wide security corridor, which was basically controlled by Russia. As a result, whenever Georgia wants to join NATO, Russia always threatens the South Ossetia issue. But after several gunshots in Georgia, everything changed. The security corridor disappeared, and the armed conflict took away Russia’s last illusion about Georgia, so Russia finally had to seek the intervention of the Security Council. This move, to some extent, recognized the abortion of the regional security and stability situation previously dominated by Russia, and the internationalization of the South Ossetia issue became inevitable. While calling on all parties to exercise restraint, the United States secretly encourages Georgia to make things worse so that it can intervene later on with more grandiose reasons. South Ossetia, the last fortress in Russia’s Transcaucasia, was so easily breached by the United States. Wen yufu
Editor: Zhang Renhe
