Topic: Situation in Georgia
Country: Kenya
Delegate Name: Jenny Voss
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Kenya position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
The Republic of Kenya is deeply distressed by the Federation of Russia and the actions they have selected to take in the conflict in Georgia. Russia barged into the country of Georgia and self declared the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as their own independent countries; disconnect from Georgia. On the recent date of August 7th, 2008, armed battle broke out between Russia and Georgia. The reason for this warfare was the disagreement in territory of land that is constitutionally part of Georgia, but declared as two separate countries by Russia. Because of this dispute and the violence occurring, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or become refugees.
Kenya realizes the extremities of this situation and the need to obtain once again a stable living environment for the previous citizens of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. In order to arrive to a peaceful resolution, both parties first need to pursue a cease-fire that would allow refugees to return to the land they used to live without harm. With an army almost 13 times as large as Georgia’s army, Russia has the military upper hand and is able to apply pressure without restraint on Georgia. Russia is not afraid to enter into warfare; because of they’re superiority in this area. Kenya believes that the UN needs to get involved by placing pressure on both countries to sign a cease-fire that would lead to an outcome of future peace between the two countries.
UN resolutions have been relatively vague on the situation in Georgia because many countries are afraid to apply too much pressure on Russia; worried of the possibility that they might withdraw their contribution of natural gas to the world. It states in the 62/249 resolution of the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia on May 15, 2008, that the UN realizes the urgent need to return refugees to their homes. Because the UN realizes that this is a desperate need, we need to be ready to take the actions needed to repair this humanitarian issue, not just recognize it.
Kenya believes that the measures needed to best aid the situation in Georgia are to apply more pressure to Georgia, and Russia especially to sign a cease-fire document. We feel it is most important to persuade Russia to the signing because Georgia has already offered to sign the document themselves. Russia is the bigger threat and the dominating leaders in armed conflict between the two. Kenya hopes to see a positive response to the cease-fire and that soon Russia will return the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia back to Georgia.
"Russia and Georgia – Background to conflict." Amnesty International. 12 Aug. 2008. Amnesty International. 18 Nov. 2008 <http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/feature-stories/russia-and-georgia-background-conflict-20080812>.
