MOSCOW -- The Russian operation in S.Ossetia was different from the NATO attack on Serbia in 1999, Sergei Lavrov says.
Source: Tanjug
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In this instance, Russia used force in full conformity with international law, its right to self-defense, and its obligations under agreements with regard to conflict in South Ossetia.
"Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995," Lavrov states.
The minister praises the Russian military and says that it acted efficiently and professionally. “It was an able ground operation that quickly achieved its very clear and legitimate objectives,” writes Lavrov, Itar-Tass news agency reports.
"We'll continue to seek to deprive the present Georgian regime of the potential and resources to do more mischief," Lavrov says, adding that Russia could introduce an arms embargo on the current Tbilisi regime.
"An embargo on arms supplies to the current Tbilisi regime would be a start," the minister says, affirming Moscow’s decisiveness to implement the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan endorsed in Moscow on August 12.
He states that Russia is not convinced that Georgia is willing to cooperate.
Lavrov writes that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili keeps trying to persuade the world that the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali was destroyed not by the Georgian attack, but by the Russian forces who, according to Saakashvili, bombed the city after they entered it.
“Russia is committed to the ongoing positive development of relations with the U.S. ," he says, adding that bilateral relations between Russia and the U.S. can only move forward upon the basis of reciprocity.
The Russian foreign minister says that he has found recent signals coming from Washington to be ominous. “Several joint military exercises have been cancelled by the Americans,” he says, adding that Washington is threatening to freeze bilateral strategic dialogue with Russia.
Commenting on the U.S. decision to install a missile defense system in Eastern Europe and on the future of the strategic arms reduction regime, Lavrov says that the very threat to drop those issues from the U.S.-Russia bilateral agenda is very indicative of the cost of the choice being made in Washington in favor of the discredited regime in Tbilisi.
“To begin down the road of cooperation, it would not be a bad idea [for the U.S.]to do a very simple thing: Just admit for a moment that the course of history must not depend entirely on what the Georgian president is saying,” he stresses.
I see the Albanians all around here defending their case, but without any sign of objectivity. The KLA was supported with weapons and through the media from the West, as it is now the case with Georgia. The US follows its interests without any regard for truth or justice and most people fall for their propaganda. Kosovo is a 'virtual' project of the USA as is Georgia, but the consequences of this projects will not be suffered by the people in the US.
(Dan, 23 August 2008 09:44)
“‘Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995,’ Lavrov states.”
Certainly. The Russian peacekeepers would help the Bosnian Serb Army on the job…
(Bad Gorilla, 22 August 2008 07:58)
Peggy: Serbs had no choice but to go in there and protect.
Whether they used more force than necessary is what is to be debated but under the circumstances and in times of war it's natural for anyone to be enraged enough about what was happening to their people to want to use excessive force.
And as for there being what you call "debate" about the subject, it is only your fellow Serbs who worship Karadzic and Mlladic that debate the decision of your now-revered ICJ. The hypocrisy here is astounding! Even your bed buddy says that Serbs committed GENOCIDE in SREBRENICA!
(Art, 22 August 2008 05:27)
Freeman, I knew someone was going to take a bit out of what I said and run with it. Did you read the whole comment or just the bit that suites you?
I did say that perhaps use of excessive force can be debated but in a civil war situation when the other side is murdering your people do you honestly stop and think what is excessive?
What or who was Oric protecting?
BTW, the 8000 figure is being thrown around so much, but who actually got killed?
When the Serbs got there, who were they fighting against. Unarmed civilians or someone shooting at them?
Wouldn't be the first time troops blended in with the civilians in order to cry massacre.
Please spare me the CNN propaganda of 8000 innocent civilians.
How many Serbian civilians were killed in Srebrenica and nearby? How convenient to forget that.
(Peggy, 22 August 2008 04:27)
Of course S.Ossetia, Kosovo are very different. Kosovo is internationally recognised as independent, while S.Ossetia is internationally recognised as part of Georgia.
...…..
Well, it's named hypocrisy.
(SimMur, 22 August 2008 03:55)
Lavrov cannot possibly expect the current regime in the US to act sensibly. They have made a mistake after a mistake and have made themselves the laughingstock.
Before you Albanian posters jump on board with Lavrov's statement about Srebrenica, did it ever occur to you that it was the Muslims there who started the murders of the Serbs thus getting the response they did.
I think Lavrov knows what happened and he also knows the Muslims stared with the killings of Serbs in the area. Serbs had no choice but to go in there and protect.
Whether they used more force than necessary is what is to be debated but under the circumstances and in times of war it's natural for anyone to be enraged enough about what was happening to their people to want to use excessive force. Oric did it without provocation. I don't see the Muslims condemning him.
(Peggy, 21 August 2008 22:52)
It's the Putin regime, with its free, independent media that has the track record when it comes to destroying cities in the Caucasus. To suggest the Georgian army is responsible for most of the destruction, we must forget what happened to Grozny, Chechnya in 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2000. Russian "peace-keeping" there seemed a tad more indescriminate than NATOs intervention in Kosovo
(Sebastian, 21 August 2008 19:59)
Lavrov needs to do his homework better regarding the events in Srebrenica. That statement from an ally is a rank insult. Perpetuating NATO propaganda is of service to no one but NATO.
(Sergei, 21 August 2008 19:16)
We all know what kind of peacekeepping mission Russia has. Their mission is to destroy everything that is pro West. Their mission is to bring a "brown bear" aka Russian Empire back.
(Nexh, 21 August 2008 16:52)
"once the air bombardment campaign ran out of military targets, “it degenerated into attacks on bridges, TV towers, passenger trains and other civilian sites, even hitting an embassy.”
I agree with Lavrov.
Although, I am very grateful to NATO I must say that in essence the intervention was quite racist.
NATO not endanger 1 of his soldiers was allowing to be killed 100 Albanians. This was also acknowledged by numerous surveys in different US student campuses.
This was not the case of Russia in SO and Abkhasia. Hence Serbian nationalists can feel much safer and Albanian need to create independent mechanisms (2,500 troops of the Kosova's Security Forces is a JOKE).
(ben, 21 August 2008 16:49)
Of course S.Ossetia, Kosovo are very different. Kosovo is internationally recognised as independent, while S.Ossetia is internationally recognised as part of Georgia.
The only similarity is in the wars themselves. Both, Serbia and Russia similarly carried our crimes against humanity in both regions, and LOST NOW all the rights, FOREVER, in both regions to ever rule those parts again.
(PRN, 21 August 2008 16:40)
"Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995," Lavrov states"
No kidding Mr. Lavrov, you just woke and found out that Serbs comitted genocide in Srebrenica. Where have you been till now?
(Ahmet Isufi, 21 August 2008 16:19)
"Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995," Lavrov states"
No kidding Mr. Lavrov, you just woke and found out that Serbs comitted genocide in Srebrenica. Where have you been till now?
(Ahmet Isufi, 21 August 2008 16:19)
Of course S.Ossetia, Kosovo are very different. Kosovo is internationally recognised as independent, while S.Ossetia is internationally recognised as part of Georgia.
The only similarity is in the wars themselves. Both, Serbia and Russia similarly carried our crimes against humanity in both regions, and LOST NOW all the rights, FOREVER, in both regions to ever rule those parts again.
(PRN, 21 August 2008 16:40)
"once the air bombardment campaign ran out of military targets, “it degenerated into attacks on bridges, TV towers, passenger trains and other civilian sites, even hitting an embassy.”
I agree with Lavrov.
Although, I am very grateful to NATO I must say that in essence the intervention was quite racist.
NATO not endanger 1 of his soldiers was allowing to be killed 100 Albanians. This was also acknowledged by numerous surveys in different US student campuses.
This was not the case of Russia in SO and Abkhasia. Hence Serbian nationalists can feel much safer and Albanian need to create independent mechanisms (2,500 troops of the Kosova's Security Forces is a JOKE).
(ben, 21 August 2008 16:49)
We all know what kind of peacekeepping mission Russia has. Their mission is to destroy everything that is pro West. Their mission is to bring a "brown bear" aka Russian Empire back.
(Nexh, 21 August 2008 16:52)
Lavrov needs to do his homework better regarding the events in Srebrenica. That statement from an ally is a rank insult. Perpetuating NATO propaganda is of service to no one but NATO.
(Sergei, 21 August 2008 19:16)
“‘Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995,’ Lavrov states.”
Certainly. The Russian peacekeepers would help the Bosnian Serb Army on the job…
(Bad Gorilla, 22 August 2008 07:58)
Lavrov cannot possibly expect the current regime in the US to act sensibly. They have made a mistake after a mistake and have made themselves the laughingstock.
Before you Albanian posters jump on board with Lavrov's statement about Srebrenica, did it ever occur to you that it was the Muslims there who started the murders of the Serbs thus getting the response they did.
I think Lavrov knows what happened and he also knows the Muslims stared with the killings of Serbs in the area. Serbs had no choice but to go in there and protect.
Whether they used more force than necessary is what is to be debated but under the circumstances and in times of war it's natural for anyone to be enraged enough about what was happening to their people to want to use excessive force. Oric did it without provocation. I don't see the Muslims condemning him.
(Peggy, 21 August 2008 22:52)
Peggy: Serbs had no choice but to go in there and protect.
Whether they used more force than necessary is what is to be debated but under the circumstances and in times of war it's natural for anyone to be enraged enough about what was happening to their people to want to use excessive force.
And as for there being what you call "debate" about the subject, it is only your fellow Serbs who worship Karadzic and Mlladic that debate the decision of your now-revered ICJ. The hypocrisy here is astounding! Even your bed buddy says that Serbs committed GENOCIDE in SREBRENICA!
(Art, 22 August 2008 05:27)
Of course S.Ossetia, Kosovo are very different. Kosovo is internationally recognised as independent, while S.Ossetia is internationally recognised as part of Georgia.
...…..
Well, it's named hypocrisy.
(SimMur, 22 August 2008 03:55)
It's the Putin regime, with its free, independent media that has the track record when it comes to destroying cities in the Caucasus. To suggest the Georgian army is responsible for most of the destruction, we must forget what happened to Grozny, Chechnya in 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2000. Russian "peace-keeping" there seemed a tad more indescriminate than NATOs intervention in Kosovo
(Sebastian, 21 August 2008 19:59)
Freeman, I knew someone was going to take a bit out of what I said and run with it. Did you read the whole comment or just the bit that suites you?
I did say that perhaps use of excessive force can be debated but in a civil war situation when the other side is murdering your people do you honestly stop and think what is excessive?
What or who was Oric protecting?
BTW, the 8000 figure is being thrown around so much, but who actually got killed?
When the Serbs got there, who were they fighting against. Unarmed civilians or someone shooting at them?
Wouldn't be the first time troops blended in with the civilians in order to cry massacre.
Please spare me the CNN propaganda of 8000 innocent civilians.
How many Serbian civilians were killed in Srebrenica and nearby? How convenient to forget that.
(Peggy, 22 August 2008 04:27)
I see the Albanians all around here defending their case, but without any sign of objectivity. The KLA was supported with weapons and through the media from the West, as it is now the case with Georgia. The US follows its interests without any regard for truth or justice and most people fall for their propaganda. Kosovo is a 'virtual' project of the USA as is Georgia, but the consequences of this projects will not be suffered by the people in the US.
(Dan, 23 August 2008 09:44)
"Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995," Lavrov states"
No kidding Mr. Lavrov, you just woke and found out that Serbs comitted genocide in Srebrenica. Where have you been till now?
(Ahmet Isufi, 21 August 2008 16:19)
Of course S.Ossetia, Kosovo are very different. Kosovo is internationally recognised as independent, while S.Ossetia is internationally recognised as part of Georgia.
The only similarity is in the wars themselves. Both, Serbia and Russia similarly carried our crimes against humanity in both regions, and LOST NOW all the rights, FOREVER, in both regions to ever rule those parts again.
(PRN, 21 August 2008 16:40)
Lavrov cannot possibly expect the current regime in the US to act sensibly. They have made a mistake after a mistake and have made themselves the laughingstock.
Before you Albanian posters jump on board with Lavrov's statement about Srebrenica, did it ever occur to you that it was the Muslims there who started the murders of the Serbs thus getting the response they did.
I think Lavrov knows what happened and he also knows the Muslims stared with the killings of Serbs in the area. Serbs had no choice but to go in there and protect.
Whether they used more force than necessary is what is to be debated but under the circumstances and in times of war it's natural for anyone to be enraged enough about what was happening to their people to want to use excessive force. Oric did it without provocation. I don't see the Muslims condemning him.
(Peggy, 21 August 2008 22:52)
We all know what kind of peacekeepping mission Russia has. Their mission is to destroy everything that is pro West. Their mission is to bring a "brown bear" aka Russian Empire back.
(Nexh, 21 August 2008 16:52)
Lavrov needs to do his homework better regarding the events in Srebrenica. That statement from an ally is a rank insult. Perpetuating NATO propaganda is of service to no one but NATO.
(Sergei, 21 August 2008 19:16)
"once the air bombardment campaign ran out of military targets, “it degenerated into attacks on bridges, TV towers, passenger trains and other civilian sites, even hitting an embassy.”
I agree with Lavrov.
Although, I am very grateful to NATO I must say that in essence the intervention was quite racist.
NATO not endanger 1 of his soldiers was allowing to be killed 100 Albanians. This was also acknowledged by numerous surveys in different US student campuses.
This was not the case of Russia in SO and Abkhasia. Hence Serbian nationalists can feel much safer and Albanian need to create independent mechanisms (2,500 troops of the Kosova's Security Forces is a JOKE).
(ben, 21 August 2008 16:49)
It's the Putin regime, with its free, independent media that has the track record when it comes to destroying cities in the Caucasus. To suggest the Georgian army is responsible for most of the destruction, we must forget what happened to Grozny, Chechnya in 1994, 1995, 1999 and 2000. Russian "peace-keeping" there seemed a tad more indescriminate than NATOs intervention in Kosovo
(Sebastian, 21 August 2008 19:59)
Of course S.Ossetia, Kosovo are very different. Kosovo is internationally recognised as independent, while S.Ossetia is internationally recognised as part of Georgia.
...…..
Well, it's named hypocrisy.
(SimMur, 22 August 2008 03:55)
Freeman, I knew someone was going to take a bit out of what I said and run with it. Did you read the whole comment or just the bit that suites you?
I did say that perhaps use of excessive force can be debated but in a civil war situation when the other side is murdering your people do you honestly stop and think what is excessive?
What or who was Oric protecting?
BTW, the 8000 figure is being thrown around so much, but who actually got killed?
When the Serbs got there, who were they fighting against. Unarmed civilians or someone shooting at them?
Wouldn't be the first time troops blended in with the civilians in order to cry massacre.
Please spare me the CNN propaganda of 8000 innocent civilians.
How many Serbian civilians were killed in Srebrenica and nearby? How convenient to forget that.
(Peggy, 22 August 2008 04:27)
I see the Albanians all around here defending their case, but without any sign of objectivity. The KLA was supported with weapons and through the media from the West, as it is now the case with Georgia. The US follows its interests without any regard for truth or justice and most people fall for their propaganda. Kosovo is a 'virtual' project of the USA as is Georgia, but the consequences of this projects will not be suffered by the people in the US.
(Dan, 23 August 2008 09:44)
“‘Russia could not allow its peacekeepers to watch acts of genocide committed in front of their eyes, as happened in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995,’ Lavrov states.”
Certainly. The Russian peacekeepers would help the Bosnian Serb Army on the job…
(Bad Gorilla, 22 August 2008 07:58)
Peggy: Serbs had no choice but to go in there and protect.
Whether they used more force than necessary is what is to be debated but under the circumstances and in times of war it's natural for anyone to be enraged enough about what was happening to their people to want to use excessive force.
And as for there being what you call "debate" about the subject, it is only your fellow Serbs who worship Karadzic and Mlladic that debate the decision of your now-revered ICJ. The hypocrisy here is astounding! Even your bed buddy says that Serbs committed GENOCIDE in SREBRENICA!
(Art, 22 August 2008 05:27)