Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) joins the appeal of National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.
Baroness Catherine Ashton - EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of European Commission
Mr. Stefan Füle - European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy
With this letter we would like to ask you to enhance your efforts in Georgia/region against the policy of Russian Federation to build new, insuperable "borders". or to constract different forms of barricades, barbed wires, concrete structures, walls, sitches on the teritory of Georgia.
As you know, after the Russia - Georgia war in 2008, armed forces of Russian Federation deployed on the territory of Georgia by blatantly violating the international law and the sovereign rights of the country, resulting in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be remained as occupied regions. There was an ethnic cleaning in the above mentioned areas, which is confirmed by many international organizations. The Russian military reinforces the crossing regime at the administrative border by building insuperable barriers in a way that separates families, private or rural - community property, and prevents citizens from moving freely. This process is still continuing and has intensified during the recent months. Beyond the barbed wires there are agricultural lands, chapels and cemeteries, irrigation and drinking water facilities, and etc. The particular concern is caused by the facts of repression of the citizens suffering from a so-called "border regime in case of violation," due to which the victims are often elderly and children. Monitors of civil society have found similar cases many times. The above mentioned facts is also known for EU monitoring mission.
We are grateful to the European Union, the European Neighborhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership Policy, which aims to support the development of our country. We support disapproving conflict regions by EU and its engagement policy in those zones. This policy implies that the benefits earned by cooperating and collaboration with EU should be also accessed by the citizens from the conflict zones. Policy of Russian Federation in the region is a preventing factor for policy of engagement. Building new, insuperable borders and creating border regimes breaks relationship among relatives, prevents the dialogue between conflict zones, trading, involvement in the health and educational programs. This policy creates a constant threat and feeling of illegal persecution among citizens, that also is a threat to stability. This process violates the fundamental rights of human and complicates already difficult situation of the local population, both, from security and humanitarian point of view. There is nothing to say about the responsibilities from Russian side, including the EU- mediated cease-fire agreement in August 2008, and violation of the principles of international law. We hope that EU has a real lever to resist the vicious policy of the Russian Federation. On behalf of the National Platform, thank you for your support.
The undersigned organizations:
1. Association “Green Alternative"
2. Georgia Press Association
3. The Association of Regional Broadcastings of Georgian
4. The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy
5. Supporting Group of Women's Initiatives
6. Article 42 of Constitution
7. Professional Union of Georgia
8. LDA Georgia
9. Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
10. Energy Efficiency Fund
11. Association for "Peaceful and Business Caucasus"
12. Fund of "Multiethnic Resource Center for Developing Civil Education"
13. The IDP Women Association “Consent"
14. School - Family - Society
15. International Supporting Center of Technologies of Researches and Innovations
16. Association of Farmers' Rights Protection
17. Student - Youth Council
18. European Integration Forum
19. European Initiative - Liberal Academy Tbilisi
20. Foundation for Women Entrepreneurs
21. International Transparency - Georgia
22. World Experience for Georgia
23. Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies
24. International Centre for Geopolitical Studies
25. Cultural-Humanitarian Fund "Sukhumi"
26. Civic Development Association
27. International Foundation for Sustainable Development
28. Center for Human Rights
29. Public Defender
30. Association “Atinati"
31. Caucasian mosaic
32. Greens Movement of Georgia / Friends of the Earth
33. International Penal Reform
34. EEC
35. Ecology of Caucasus
36. Caucasian Women with University Education
37. Union "Ecotech"
38. International Business and Economic Development Center
39. Association of European Studies for Innovative Development of Georgia
40. Coalition for Independent Living
41. Fund Open Society - Georgia
42. Nationalism and Conflict Research Institute
43. Healthy World
44. Association of the Efficient Usage of Energy Resources
45. International organization of Defending Human Rights and Socially Supporting the Prisoners
46. Repatriates Union
47. Centre of Policy Analysis
48. Caucasian House - Georgia
49. Union of Teachers 'Education and World’
50. Caucasian Institute for Economic and Social Research Institute
51. "The Mother”
52. Youth Alternative
53. Association “Women and Business”
54. "Young Justice"
55. Fund on the name of Levan Mikeladze
56. Public Movement “Multinational Georgia”
57. Centre for the Study of Religions
58. Association Green Wave”
59. EPF
60. Centre for Educational Development and Employment in Kutaisi
61. Union Eco-Vision for Sustainable Development
62. Association “Mercury"
63. Association Tolerant
64. International Center on Conflict and Negotiation
