Key Statements

The Statements/actions Made by the Key State Persons/ Organizations on Recent Events of August 08.08-10.08.2008

The United States of America

President Bush on Sunday called French President and current EU head Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss the conflict, the White House said;

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jim Jeffrey said the United States was urgently looking into the report, saying that it would be a very serious escalation for Russia to move into Georgia beyond the Abkhazia region. "We have made it clear to the Russians that if the disproportionate and dangerous escalation on the Russian side continues, that this will have a significant long-term impact on U.S.-Russian relations," said Jeffrey, speaking to reporters in Beijing, China, on Sunday;

Russia's use of strategic bombers and ballistic missiles against Georgia's civilians outside of the South Ossetian conflict is "far disproportionate" to Georgia's alleged attack on Russian peacekeepers, a senior U.S. official said Saturday; Russia's use of its potent air weaponry signals a "severe" and "dangerous escalation in the crisis," the official said; "For the life of me, I can't image that being a proportionate response to the charge that Georgia has attacked Russian peacekeepers," the official said. "It's hard for us to understand what Russia's plan is here;"

The official said Russia is probably trying to destabilize Georgia politically to kill its chances of joining NATO;

The official said European allies have told the United States that Russia has "crossed a line of unacceptable behavior" and should "expect international condemnation.""I do sense an emerging unified view among our key allies," he said;

The US has described Russia's actions as "dangerous and disproportionate".

NATO

Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Russia had violated Georgia's territorial integrity in South Ossetia and condemned the "disproportionate use of force".

The Western European States/ European Union/ European Council

The foreign ministers of France and Finland arrived in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Sunday evening to talk with Georgian officials about peace efforts;

Urkaine might prevent Russian navy ships involved in the blockade from returning to their bases in the Crimea, an spokeswoman with Urkaine's foreign ministry said;

Sarkozy, who spoke to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the Olympic opening ceremonies, called for both sides to stand down and for "the full respect of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity;" Sarkozy's proposal calls for the return of Russian and Georgian troops to their former positions and requires Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity be respected; A statement from Sarkozy's office did not provide further details on the plan;

The EU and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were sending envoys to Georgia to secure a cease-fire, but a senior U.S. State Department official said the United States would send only a representative after a cease-fire is in place;

The European Union said it was working with other parties "towards a ceasefire in order to prevent further escalation of this conflict." EU spokeswoman Christina Gallach told CNN: "We think it is not acceptable to see these scenes of bloodshed and destruction;"

Britons warned to leave Georgia .The Foreign Office is advising British nationals in Georgia to leave unless there is an urgent need to stay. On Friday, British Ambassador to Georgia Denis Keefe wrote to British citizens in the country advising them to stock up on water, food and fuel.

He said then that there was "no immediate cause for alarm" and British nationals were not being advised to leave the country. It is wise to [leave] while some air services are still available and the border remains open; However, on Sunday the Foreign Office issued new advice. It said in a statement: "If you or your family have no urgent need to remain in Georgia you should leave as soon as possible. "It is wise to do so while some air services are still available and the border remains open;" The Foreign Office is also advising against all travel to the separatist regions of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the upper Kodori;

Gordon Brown held talks with international leaders on Sunday in a bid to create pressure for a ceasefire. A Downing Street spokesman said the UK prime minister had "detailed discussions" with the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and had also spoken to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He added: "The foreign secretary has been in touch with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and EU foreign ministers. "We will continue to press for international action to help bring the conflict to an end and we urge both parties to agree an immediate ceasefire;"

UN

The United Nations Security Council began meeting for a fourth day on Sunday to discuss the conflict. It has so far failed to agree on the wording of a statement calling for a ceasefire;

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) called on the parties to the conflict to grant safe passage for thousands of civilians trying to escape the war zone;

The UNHCR estimates that between 10,000 and 20,000 people have been displaced within Georgia, including South Ossetia, while Russia has said that a further 30,000 people have fled north into the Russian province of North Ossetia;

"The conflict has caused civilian casualties and more are at risk," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said. "It is essential that humanitarian agencies be able to reach the affected and the displace;."

Other

Russians gathered at the Russian Orthodox church in central London said a special prayer for peace in South Ossetia at their Sunday service. The suffering of the people of the Georgian region was foremost in their mind as they expressed their regret that the two nations, who have always lived in peace, were at war;