BIDEN Issues Statement on Continued Violence in South Ossetia

Statement

BIDEN Issues Statement on Continued Violence in South Ossetia

Calls for the Unites Nations Security Council to Review Crisis Immediately

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) today issued this statement following news that Russian armored vehicles have entered South Ossetia:

"On a day when we would hope to be remembering the heritage of peace and brotherhood of the Olympic Games, the whole world is instead watching the violence in the Georgian region of South Ossetia. All sides to the conflict - Russians, South Ossetians and Georgians - should immediately cease hostilities.

"In view of Russia's past provocative actions in South Ossetia, including the recent overflight of the region by Russian warplanes on July 8th, Moscow has a particular obligation to avoid further escalation of the situation. Georgia has been a close partner of the United States, and I am eager to see this crisis resolved quickly and peacefully through diplomacy, not violence. The United States should engage immediately and urgently with Georgia and Russia at the highest levels of government and insist that the forces of both countries stand down now. The United Nations Security Council should also review this issue and facilitate negotiations between all sides in order to prevent any further loss of life."

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