MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Georgian occupied territories 10 years after the Russian invasion
11.6.2018 - (2018/2741(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Heidi Hautala, Rebecca Harms, Jordi Solé, Igor Šoltes on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0275/2018
B8‑0279/2018
European Parliament resolution on Georgian occupied territories 10 years after the Russian invasion
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008, mediated by the EU and signed by Georgia and the Russian Federation, and to the implementation agreement of 8 September 2008,
– having regard to the report of the 2009 Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia, headed by Heidi Tagliavini,
– having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2016 on Association Agreements / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine[1],
– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2017 on the Annual Report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy[2],
– having regard to the Joint Declarations of the Eastern Partnership Summits, notably that agreed in 2017 in Brussels,
– having regard to the joint communications from the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), notably the report of 18 May 2017 on the implementation of the ENP review (JOIN(2017)0018), the joint staff working document of 9 June 2017 entitled ‘Eastern Partnership – 20 Deliverables for 2020: Focusing on key priorities and tangible results’ (SWD(2017)0300), and the 2016 communication entitled ‘A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign And Security Policy’,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the Eastern Neighbourhood and, in particular, its recommendation of 15 November 2017 to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS on the Eastern Partnership, in the run-up to the November 2017 Summit[3],
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the EU strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders;
B. whereas the EU played a key role in the ceasefire agreements of August and September 2008 and remains firmly committed to a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict with full respect for the fundamental norms and principles of international law;
C. whereas 10 years after the outbreak of the Russia-Georgia conflict and the subsequent Russian invasion of Georgia, the Russian Federation continues its illegal occupation and is taking steps towards a de facto annexation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, thus undermining international law and the rules-based international system;
D. whereas 10 years after the Russia-Georgia war, the Russian Federation continues to be in breach of its international obligations and refuses to implement in full the EU‑mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008;
E. whereas the Russian Federation is further reinforcing its illegal military presence in the Georgian occupied territories and intensifying the buildup and exercises of its military, thus seriously destabilising the security situation on the ground;
F. whereas the Russian Federation continues to isolate the territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and their inhabitants from the rest of the country by closing so-called crossing points, installing barbed-wire fences and other artificial barriers, and further extending the administrative boundary line;
G. whereas hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees forcibly expelled from the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia as a result of several waves of ethnic cleansing continue to be deprived of the fundamental right to a safe and dignified return to their homes;
H. whereas gross violations of human rights including freedom of movement and residence, the right to property and the right of access to native-language education, as well as illegal detentions and kidnappings, continue to take place in the occupied regions of Georgia;
I. whereas the Georgian population residing in the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia continue to be subjected to intense discrimination on ethnic grounds;
J. whereas the Georgian internally displaced persons Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and Davit Basharuli were illegally deprived of their lives as a result of brutal actions by the occupying Russian regimes in Sokhumi and Tskhinvali;
K. whereas the Russian Federation, as a power exercising effective control over the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, bears complete responsibility for the severe breaches of human rights and for the humanitarian situation on the ground;
1. Emphasises that sovereignty, independence and the peaceful settlement of disputes are key principles of the European security order; stresses that the resolution of the conflicts in Georgia is essential to enhancing the security and stability of the European continent as a whole; considers that these conflicts and the continuing occupation of Georgian territories remain a potential threat to the sovereignty of all countries in Europe;
2. Reiterates its firm support for the territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders and for the sovereign right of each country to freely determine its future; acknowledges that the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the 1990 OSCE Charter of Paris represent the cornerstones of a peaceful European continent;
3. Supports the policy of Georgia of working towards peaceful conflict resolution, including through compliance with the 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement, the unilateral non-use of force pledge, engagement in the Geneva International Discussions, and efforts towards reconciliation and confidence-building between divided communities;
4. Demands that the Russian Federation cease its occupation of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the inviolability of its internationally recognised borders;
5. Calls for the achievement of tangible results on the core issues of the Geneva International Discussions, including the affirmation and implementation of the non-use of force commitment, the establishment of international security mechanisms in the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, and the return of internally displaced persons and refugees, with the aim of achieving lasting peace and security on the ground;
6. Urges the Government of Georgia to continue to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) by facilitating investigations by the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, as well as ensuring that the ICC Registry can fulfil its mandate in terms of outreach and victim participation;
7. Welcomes the new peace initiative of the Government of Georgia entitled ‘A Step to a Better Future’, as well as any other initiative aimed at improving the humanitarian and socio-economic conditions of people residing in the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and fostering people-to-people contact and confidence- building between divided communities;
8. Strongly urges the Russian Federation to abide by its international obligations, fully implement the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement, and withdraw its military forces from the territory of Georgia;
9. Calls on the Russian Federation to cease the installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial barriers along the occupation line, which is intentionally hindering people-to-people contact and isolating the populations of both occupied regions;
10. Calls on the Russian Federation, as a power exercising effective control, to end impunity and ethnically motivated crimes in the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, and to remove any obstacles in order to ensure that the perpetrators of the illegal deprivation of life of the Georgian internally displaced persons Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria and Davit Basharuli are brought to justice;
11. Urges the Russian Federation, as a power exercising effective control, to cease its violation of human rights, its restriction of freedom of movement and residence, its discrimination on ethnic grounds, and its infringement of the right to property and to native-language education in the occupied territories of Georgia;
12. Urges the Russian Federation to allow the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes, and to ensure unimpeded access on the ground for international human rights monitoring mechanisms and non-governmental organisations;
13. Calls on the Russian Federation to allow the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) access to the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia as per its mandate;
14. Confirms the EU’s strong commitment to further enhancing its role in the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict, by using all the instruments at its disposal as part of a comprehensive approach, including its Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, its position as co-chair of the Geneva International Discussions, the EUMM in Georgia, and the policy of non-recognition and engagement;
15. Calls on the EU institutions to reflect, jointly with the Georgian authorities, on the prospect of further enhancing the role of the EU in peaceful conflict resolution and of building capacities and fostering resilience, including in the areas of counter-terrorism, strategic communications, cyber-defence and security sector reform; calls for the upcoming negotiations on the post-2020 EU financial instruments devoted to the European Neighbourhood Policy to take due account of needs in this respect;
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EEAS and the Commission, the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia and the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation.
- [1] OJ C 11, 12.1.2018, p. 82.
- [2] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0493.
- [3] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0440.