Georgia: NATO meeting in Brussels
19 Aug 2008
Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, spoke to the media before the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting on Georgia on Tuesday 19 August.David Miliband commented on the situation in Georgia ahead of the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting. He also answered questions from journalists about the role NATO should play in negotiating a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
'I think the continuing uncertainty about Russia's willingness to live up to the commitment to withdraw from Georgia will be a big force of unity today.
It is absolutely clear that Russia needs to live up to the commitments that President Medvedev has made and it has got to live up to them immediately. I also think that there will be strong political and practical support for Georgia because it is very important that the sovereignty and independence of that country is properly defended. I am looking forward to these meetings as a chance for NATO to come together around some very core principals that I think can bind the alliance together.'
Journalist: Should NATO be looking to suspend Russia/NATO meetings at ministerial and other levels if Russia does not pull out?
'I think the continuing uncertainty about Russia's willingness to live up to the commitment to withdraw from Georgia will be a big force of unity today.
I think that first the priority is to provide practical and political support to Georgia, secondly to ensure that Russia does not learn the wrong lessons from the events of the last two weeks. We are absolutely clear that force should not be the basis for the demarcation of new lines around Russia and we are absolutely clear that UN resolution is properly adhered to. We are clear that democratic and sovereign governments need to be defended and I think that those are the bottom lines. The dialogue with Russia goes on at a number of difference levels and I think they can get a consistent message'
Journalist: What about the possible sanction at NATO level and what impact will they have on NATO/Russian relations?
'I think that we are all going to be clear. I said last week that business as usual would not be an option after the events of the last couple of weeks. I think it is very, very important that we address the immediate issue of Russia withdrawal, the humanitarian situation and the need to provide political support for the independent country which after in May we said will eventually become a member of NATO alongside Ukraine and that is certainly the position we will be advocating today.
I think the continuing uncertainty about Russia's willingness to live up to the commitment to withdraw from Georgia will be a big force for unity in the NATO meeting today.
I think that NATO will come together clearly for Russia to fulfil its obligations but also to defend the independence and territorial integrity and sovereignty of a country that wants to become a member of NATO and which NATO said in May should become a member.'
Journalist: Should NATO/Russia Council be suspended?
'I am not one that believes that isolating Russia is the right answer to its misdemeanours. I think that the right response is hard-headed engagement that we want to make sure that Russia understands the consequences of its actions and that we are going to stick together as an alliance and make sure those who want to join the alliance know that they have political and practical support. That practical support is needed by displaced persons that desperately need humanitarian assistance but there is also a political angle that we need to follow through.'
