Chairman’s statement

Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the level of Ambassadors with Deputy Foreign Minister Konstyantyn Yeliseyev, Presidential Special Envoy to Georgia held at the NATO Headquarters on 27 August 2008

The NATO-Ukraine Commission met on 27 August in Ambassadorial session with the participation of the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Konstiantyn Yeliseyev, Presidential Special Envoy to Georgia, to exchange views on the security in the Euro-Atlantic area in the context of the current situation in Georgia.

Special Envoy Yeliseyev provided Allies with information about Ukraine’s perception of the situation in Georgia, based on his recent visits to Georgia, and presented Ukraine’s position regarding recent developments in that country. He expressed Ukraine’s deep concern over the situation in Georgia and its readiness to contribute to the settlement of the conflict, which was appreciated by Allies.

Ukraine welcomed and fully shared the Allied position on the situation in Georgia, reflected in the 19 August Statement of NATO Foreign Ministers. The NATO-Ukraine Commission expressed its deep concern over the current situation in Georgia, and its implications on the security in the Caucasus and the Euro-Atlantic area. The NATO-Ukraine Commission stressed the urgency of swift, complete and good-faith implementation of the 6-point agreement signed by Russia and Georgia, including a new international mechanism to monitor respect for these engagements. Our nations support the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Partner nations.

The NATO-Ukraine Commission condemned the decision by the Russian Federation to extend recognition to the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia. Russia’s decision violates the many UN Security Council resolutions it has endorsed regarding Georgia’s territorial integrity, and is inconsistent with the fundamental OSCE principles.

Allied Ambassadors reiterated the decision taken by NATO Heads of State and Government at the Bucharest Summit regarding Georgia’s and Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

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