Explanation of Vote on UN Security Council Resolution 1716
Ambassador John R. Bolton , U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
New York City
October 13, 2006
The United States is deeply concerned about the continuing conflict in Georgia's Abkhazia region and the lack of
progress toward its resolution. Our position, shared by the members of the Friends of the UN Secretary General for
Georgia, is to promote a peaceful, negotiated resolution of the conflict that respects the territorial integrity of
Georgia. The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) plays a vital role in the security of Georgia and the
region and is essential to our mutual efforts to resolve the conflict. Therefore, the United States welcomes the
extension of its mandate.
As always, the United States has sought to achieve, together with the Friends of the UN Secretary General for Georgia, a
renewal resolution that is balanced and focuses on positive provisions that will encourage the sides to engage in
confidence building measures and ways forward toward a resolution of the conflict. The Friends agreed on a framework for
such a text in Berlin on September 28.
Therefore, we regret the decision of the Russian Federation to table a resolution, outside of the Friends' process, that
was not consistent with the longstanding close cooperation among the Friends. It is important that established
cooperative procedures be followed in order to strengthen our mutual efforts to support both parties of the conflict in
building confidence and working toward lasting peace and stability. Nevertheless, because achieving a constructive
resolution that would be supportive to both sides in resolving the conflict was so important, we negotiated as long as
possible toward that goal within the Friends and sought throughout these negotiations to achieve a text that all could
fully support.
The United States firmly believes that both sides to the conflict must adhere strictly to the cease-fire agreement and
that it is appropriate for the Security Council to address all cease-fire violations and resolutions. At the same time,
we wish to make clear that the U.S. views the Georgian law enforcement action in the Kodori Valley as the exercise of
the Georgian Government's sovereign right and obligation to administer to the needs of its citizens in all regions of
Georgia, including Abkhazia's Upper Kodori Valley, provided that the Georgian Government carries out such actions in
accordance with the cease-fire agreement and related agreements.
The recognition in this resolution of the report of the Secretary General that tensions have increased between the sides
as a result of the Kodori Valley action underscores that military action on the part of either side is absolutely
inadmissible to the Security Council. President Saakashvili reaffirmed in his speech last month to the General Assembly
his country's firm commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and avoidance of any actions that would be
destabilizing. We call on the Security Council to support Georgia in this commitment and to lend full support to both
sides of the conflict to make progress toward a peaceful, negotiated resolution.
Released on October 13, 2006
ENDS