Ukraine supports unconditional territorial integrity of Georgia as it equalizes such Georgian threat and own sovereignty - Viktor Yushchenko

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We really went through most likely the most terrifying ten days of our contemporary history as for the first time over 17 years the war started between the countries which formed the Soviet Union in past, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko noted in the comment published on his official web-site.

He proposes to make some conclusions from this "unexampled situation" which can not leave Ukraine indifferent.

The first conclusion lies in the fact that each national security and defense model can not ensure all-sufficient reply to the national sovereignty.

Viktor Yushchenko is convinced that all that happened in Georgia is a bright example how easily military operations, violation of territorial integrity in present conditions can be transferred to any territory if it is not supported by the system, mechanisms of collective guarantees. "In other words, without guarantees any territory may run the danger of such actions," he notes.

Second, "providing adequate national sovereignty, integrity of our border may be ensured only in one way - Ukraine's drifting to the system of collective security," the president underscores, noting that he mentions the need to fight but not the one to fight with.

"Only the system of collective security will guarantee anyone, including Ukraine, the highest international standards which probably could prevent from some actions including the ones that occurred on August 7-8 first on the territory of South Ossetia and later on other Georgian territories," he underscores.

Confirming that Ukraine supported and still supports the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of any countries regardless of who started aggression or who settled a conflict, Viktor Yushchenko reminded that, in fact, Europe came out of World War II in 1975 when the Helsinki Final Act was adopted.

If now territorial integrity of any country is challenged by anyone "so we are facing the beginning of deep serious military actions," he considers. So, Ukraine should support Georgian territorial integrity and state sovereignty", this issue should not be discredited in our polemics and in our discussion".

The president equalizes the threat for the territorial integrity of any European country and revision of Ukrainian territorial integrity. "We support Georgian territorial integrity and its sovereignty because we stand for Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty," he emphasizes.

He opposes to appeals of some politicians to keep neutrality on this issue as it is "the safest position".

The president reminded that on August 9, Ukraine formed its vision of immediate termination of the conflict and expressed it by diplomatic channels of the EU countries. "With this, we wanted to say that we may be the party that will actively participate in democratic settlement of this conflict," the president said.

Touching upon his settlement plan which envisages suspension of arms, withdrawal of troops of the parties to the zones of their previous disposition, humanitarian assistance and unconditional recognition of Georgian territorial integrity, the president stressed that the tripartite peacemaking mission which acted in Georgia "is ineffective". So, the peacemaking corps should be internationalized.

"And surely, Ukraine is ready to direct particular number of peacemakers for this peacemaking operation under the relevant international mandate".

The president is convinced that the facts that a part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet temporarily located in Ukraine partook in blocking Georgian marine water area demonstrated "how easily, without agreement and desire of Ukraine it can be drawn into, in passive meaning of this word, any international conflict.

The president said that he sent a proposal to his Russian counterpart to start immediate talks on coordination of similar situations by a separate agreement which should ensure Ukraine's national security.

For this purpose he issued decrees on peculiarities of crossing Ukrainian territorial waters and state border by subdivisions of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. "It is not about attitude to somebody. It is about attitude to the policy of national security," he underscored.

UKRINFORM