Russia Introduces Draft UN Resolution on Georgian Crisis

Russia introduced to the UN Security Council on Wednesday a draft resolution on the crisis in Georgia that would reaffirm the six principles contained in a French-brokered cease-fire agreement.

The draft says the Security Council endorses the cease-fire agreement agreed in Moscow on Aug. 12, which was sponsored by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Then the draft gives a detailed account of the agreement before calling on "the parties concerned to implement the above-mentioned plan in good faith."

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters that the draft was "a verbatim reiteration" of the six principles first agreed by both Russian and French presidents, and then later supported by Georgia and its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"We think that this is a good document for the Security Council to pass and we are looking forward to a positive reaction by other members of the Security Council," Churkin said.

Speaking to reporters, French Deputy Ambassador Jean-Pierre Lacroix reiterated Paris' support for the peace plan but also added that there are still other important issues that need to be explored, including the one that calls for additional security measures by Russian forces.

Lacroix said the draft resolution France circulated Tuesday is still on the table, and any further move would depend on an assessment of the situation in Georgia and whether there are " concrete and credible signs" of withdrawal of Russian troops.

The French text, which demands compliance with the cease-fire agreement and the immediate withdrawal of Russian and Georgian forces, has been rejected by Russia.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the council has not discussed the Russian draft, which he described as an attempt "to rubber-stamp an Russian interpretation that we do not agree with."

Wolff said that there are clarifications need to be made regarding the peace plan.

Georgia sent troops into South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an attempt to regain control over its breakaway region, which has enjoyed de facto independence since 1992. Russian troops retaliated by quickly moving into the region and driving out the Georgian forces.

President Dmitry Medvedev later signed a French-brokered peace deal, which provides for the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Russia has said its military operations in Georgia were aimed at enforcing peace after the Georgian invasion, and protecting civilians and Russian peacekeepers in South Ossetia.

South Ossetians have traditional links with Russia and many of them hold Russian passports.