As delivered by Political Counselor Christopher Robinson to the Permanent Council
Vienna, January 23, 2014
The United States shares the concerns expressed by the EU and Georgia regarding reports of the creation, in the run up to the Sochi Olympics, of a “security zone” inside the territory of Georgia without the Georgian government’s consent.
The United States remains firmly committed to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. In this context, we continue to call on the Russian Federation to fulfil its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement and its subsequent implementing measures, including providing access to the EU Monitoring Mission to the occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This development underscores the need for the reestablishment of an OSCE presence in Georgia with unhindered access across the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABLs), as well as continued dialogue at the OSCE on all of the protracted conflicts.
Madam Chair, the United States reserves the right to return to this issue.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
