Press Releases
U.S. Embassy Statement on Russian Aircraft Flying Over Georgia’s South Ossetia region
July 14, 2008
The United States is dismayed by the recent escalation in violence in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and calls upon all sides to return to direct negotiations and resolve their differences peacefully. We are deeply troubled by Russia’s statement that its military aircraft deliberately violated Georgia’s internationally recognized borders by flying over Georgia’s region of South Ossetia. Such actions are only inflammatory and complicate diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
We urge all members of the international community, including Russia, to support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as called for by numerous U.N Security Council resolutions, including most recently UNSCR 1808 in April 2008. The United States fully supports and is actively engaged in the Friends of the Secretary General process and believes that the efforts of the Friends group will lead to a settlement of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.