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Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried speaks at his October 20 press conference in Tbilisi. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili, Reuters.)

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Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried speaks at his October 20 press conference in Tbilisi. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili, Reuters.)

Press Conference with Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia Daniel Fried

Obviously the United States is pleased that the Russian forces have left the so called buffer zone.  That represents real and welcomed progress. We are glad that some of the IDPs have been able to return to their homes.  The situation is far from satisfactory and there are problems of basic security.

I met with a farmer north of Gori near the South Ossetian administrative line whose father had been kidnapped by the South Ossetian gangs. So basic security is a problem, and we will work closely with the European Union whose monitors are in place, active, with the OSCE and the UN. 

The Unites States supports and will continue to support Georgia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The United States has not recognized and, more importantly, the world has not recognized the so called independence of the breakaway South Ossetian and Abkhaz regimes.  

Right now we need to work, we the United States, Georgia, and the international community needs to work to help stabilize the situation, bring more security to Georgia and then help with Georgia’s economic recovery.   The use of force and violence makes no sense. And I have made the point repeatedly that Georgia needs a period of peace, calm, and security to rebuild its economy in difficult circumstances.   The IDPs need to be able to return to their homes in the rest of Georgia in conditions of security and they need to be able to return to their homes in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in those parts of Georgia, also in conditions of security.  

The United States strongly supports the EU mission that is here on the ground.  We support the Geneva process and the efforts by   Ambassador Pierre Morel to organize the meeting on November 18. We are going to work with all the parties and we are going to work with Russia to see that Geneva process can help solve some of the problems I have mentioned, and deals with practical issues in a constructive way.   

Finally, it’s the view of the United States that as the Georgian democracy depends and grows Georgia will strengthen.  I met with the opposition, both Mr. Targamadaze, the leader of the Parliamentary opposition, and with other members of the opposition out of the Parliament and had a good exchange of views on all these issues. 

Now I’ll be happy to take any questions and look I’ve got a plane to catch and do not think I’m rude if I have to leave.    

Question 1: Imedi Radio:

Regarding Akhalgori - which you tried to enter yesterday, but you were unable to do so -and the Kodori gorge which are under Russian control currently and also in this regard the Sarkozy-Medvedev peace plan. We are interested in what kind of leverage the United States has in its hands in order to push the occupation forces to leave these territories?

Answer 1: A/S Fried

Well, as you know, the cease fire accord that President Sarkozy negotiated requires that all Russian the armed forces withdraw to their positions before the outbreak of hostilities.   The Russians have not done so, therefore they are not in compliance yet with the cease fire.  They are in compliance with some of it, but not all of it.  

Now I can say that, but the situation won’t be resolved very easily or very soon.  I have to be honest.  

But in the meantime it is important to get international observers into Akhalgori, into the other villages near Tskhinvali, into the Kodori, and other places.  The OSCE has a mandate for South Ossetia, the UN mission in Georgia has a mandate for Abkhazia and the EU mission has a mandate throughout Georgia .  We are worried about Akhalgori, we are worried about the condition of the other villages where we have reports of destruction and forcible removal of Georgian population, so we need international observers to go in there to find out what is happening.  

We think the Russians, who have troops there, are responsible for what is going on.

Question 2: Olesya Vartanyan, NY Times:

You have met with the opposition. I am very interested in hearing more details of your meetings with the opposition.  Some opposition leaders were quite critical of the U.S. Government and you personally and well, what do you think? [Fried: were critical of the U.S. Government?] Yes, and said you should correct your mistakes before you leave the State Department.

Answer 2: A/S Fried:

I do not know what they mean; they did not say anything like that to me, who knows. It is the job of the opposition to advance its own cause - the opposition does not want to be the opposition they want to be the government - and that’s perfectly legitimate. In democracies, oppositions become the government by winning elections. So, I have no idea what they want of the United States government. I certainly think the United States has reached out to the Georgian people. We’ve provided, thanks, actually to the wisdom of the U.S. Congress, we have provided rather substantial, and are now providing rather substantial assistance to Georgia; we intend to continue; we will work with this government and we have made clear that we’ll work with whatever government the Georgian people gives us through democratic elections.   

Questions 3: Rustavi-2:

Yesterday you visited the Shida Kartli region, you tried to enter Akhalgori, but you were not allowed to. Who stopped you from entering Akhalgori?

Answer 3: A/S Fried:

I actually did not try to enter because I knew it would not be possible so I went as far as the last Georgian checkpoint.      

Question 4: Helena Bedwell Bloomberg News: 

How would you comment on some claims that the U.S. Government is trying to sort out post war problems in Georgia, before the administration changes in the White House; and how likely is that when the new administration takes over Georgia will remain as important as before?

Answer 4: A/S Fried:

Obviously the current U.S. administration will do everything it can in the three months it has still in office to work with Georgia and the Georgian people and with our European friends and allies. I look forward to working with the incoming team, whichever team it is, to work with them so that the handover is as smooth and professional as possible.

And I’ll say that I know a lot of people in both in the McCain teams and the Obama teams; I have worked with them before. And there ought to be, I cannot possible speak for either team, and I do not intend to, but  in my experience there ought to be more continuity  than not,  and judging by what both senators McCain and Obama have said both have a pretty good grasp of the situation here.

Question 5: Radio Liberty:

The IDPs returned to villages located in the buffer zones primarily before properly de-mining was completed, before removing the mines and explosive materials. This is something verified by the EU monitors. Unfortunately, it is not within the EU mandate to proceed with this type of activities.   Is it possible for the U.S. to help Georgia in this respect?  

Answer 5: A/S Fried:

The IDPs who returned to the villages in the buffer zones face a great many difficulties, which I saw yesterday.   Most homes are intact but cattle have been stolen, equipment has been stolen and it will be very hard for them to make the harvest.  Basic security is a problem, with South Ossetian gangs still coming over the administrative boundary, and stealing.  Now, I do not know specifically what is possible with respect to your question about de-mining.   If we got a request from the Georgian government we would certainly look and see what might be possible.

Question 6: Matt Robinson, Reuters:

You’ve said that Georgia will strengthen its state through strengthening its democracy.  What can you say about the status of Georgian democracy after the events last August?

Answer 6: A/S Fried:

Well, quite apart from the war Georgia has, as the events of last November demonstrated,  has to make more progress in strengthening its democratic institutions.  It’s hardly alone in that respect, but Georgia has work to do.  As these institutions are strengthened, independent media is strong, independent judiciary, a strong viable opposition, the Georgian state will strengthen. That’s just a general observation.  And it’s up to the Georgian government and also the Georgian society. Everyone needs to do its share in building these institutions. 

Question 6 follow up: Matt Robinson, Reuters:

Have you seen the right signs in that direction?

Answer 6 follow up: A/S Fried:

Well, I would say this.  We were heartened that President Saakashvili undertook a commitment to a second wave of democratic reforms.  We are going to see how these are implemented. 

Question 7: Alania TV:

Does NATO want Georgia?

Answer 7: A/S Fried:

Remember what NATO’s leaders decided at the Bucharest summit?   They decided that Georgia and Ukraine will one day be members of the Alliance. That’s the position of NATO. 

Georgia has a lot of work to do before it will be ready for NATO membership.  This is not news this has been known for a long time.  The question is: what is the best way forward and what are the next steps. 

NATO foreign ministers in December will look at the next steps to discuss this issue.  But it seems to me that NATO leaders have decided that Georgia’s progress to NATO should depend on Georgia’s performance.  That’s as it should be.  So we will work with Georgia and keep that road to NATO open.  But Georgia has to do the work to get there. 

Question 8: Associated Press [a follow up on the first question from Radio Imedi]:

You only partially answered one of Radio Imedi’s questions. Russian is not in full compliance with ceasefire agreement.  Can you also please answer what leverage the U.S. has to enforce that agreement? And my other question: do you feel as though Europe and the United States are talking with one voice with respect to Akhalgori and Kodori, and Russian troops’ withdrawal from these territories?  

Answer 8: A/S Fried:

The United States and Europe have worked extraordinarily well together since the outbreak of the war. I have no doubt that we’ll continue to. Frankly I think this was this close collaboration, which enabled us to see that the ceasefire was concluded and then implemented. 

We will continue to work diplomatically and publicly to see that Russia understands that we regard it still has obligations and the ceasefire has to be met. French Foreign Minister Kushner of course France in the capacity of EU presidency has also made this clear.  

Now the Kodori Gorge and Akhalgori are particular problems because there are a lot of Georgians there.   We think it’s important that international observers get into these areas especially. And we hope that Russia behaves…that Russia responds constructively in the context of this problem.  And we will keep making this point. 

Question 9: Galina Gotua, Freelance Journalist:

I have two questions.  What would have happened if Georgia had received MAP in April? Would the August events have happened? And if it had MAP what would have been the response to Russia’s actions from NATO members? 

Answer 9: A/S Fried:

Happily … I do not know what would have happened if it were different because it was not different, it was the was it was. So I cannot answer the questions.   

Question 9 follow up:

I’ll rephrase my question: if a MAP holder country is under  attack what are the obligations of NATO?

Answer 9 Follow up answer: A/S Fried:

NATO membership, membership, includes Article 5 commitments.  A membership action plan does not include Article 5 commitments. 

Russia’s attack on Georgia was dangerous because Russia attempted to change international borders through the use of force.  That’s a very sobering and disquieting thought. 

Having said that, right now our objective is to help Georgia and help stabilize the situation and help the IDPS return to their homes and to deal with a lot of other related problems.

Question 10: Sergio Cantone Euronews:

The EU countries especially the oldest ones  do not always agree with the politics of the US policy in this area, especially with respect to NATO membership. They all want strong relationship with Russia…

Answer 10: A/S Fried:

You did not finish your thought but I’ll take your point.

I do not actually sense that at all.  Let’s take France for example.  France showed great leadership and the President of France was both strong and successful in brokering the ceasefire; that was an important step. Without President Sarkozy’s commitment, energy and determination we would be worse off than we are.   I was with Secretary Rice when she consulted with President Sarkozy in France, in the middle of the conflict, and it  was a very successful diplomatic collaboration.

With respect to NATO, no country has offered membership to Georgia, not the United States not anyone else.  There was a debate at NATO Summit about membership action plans and NATO leaders made a very important decision - all of them at the NATO Summit.

We all want relations with Russia. Nobody wants bad relations with Russia.  We all want good relations with Russia but were all concerned; in fact the European Union condemned Russia’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 

So, this is not an issue in which the U.S and Europe have different views. We have very similar views, we work very well together.  And I must say I found it very rewarding to work with Ambassador Morel in the run-up during the Geneva meetings. We share some of the goals some of the assessments. In fact this is the area in which the U.S. and Europe have been working well together and I strongly suspect we’ll be working together in future.