Statement by Iceland on the Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia

Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, 1417th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies. Statement delivered by Sandra Lyngdorf.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Deputy Foreign Minister.

We welcome the 24th consolidated report on the conflict in Georgia. We strongly encourage the Secretary General to continue the submission of her biannual consolidated reports to the Committee of Ministers and emphasize the importance of keeping the issue high on the Council’s political agenda. We welcome the implementation of the operational activities on Council of Europe Confidence-Building Measures and encourage their continuation.

The Deputies’ decisions on the conflict should be implement as a matter of urgency and we stress the importance of access to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia for monitoring bodies and the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner.

Mr. Chair,

The continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the ongoing installation of barbed-wire fences and artificial barriers along the administrative boundary line are deeply troubling. We note with great concern that impunity for grave human rights violations in conflict-affected areas persists and reiterate the urgency of proper investigations into the tragic deaths of Georgian nationals.

In conclusion, we reiterate our firm support for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.

I thank you.