John McCain: Russia should be punished for crimes in Chechnya and North Caucasus

11 December 2010

John McCain has proposed to introduce sanctions against Russia as punishment for crimes and human rights violations in Chechnya and the North Caucasus.

According to him, the White House should influence Russia, using its desire to join the WTO.

The senator believes that the Obama administration should cease to participate in the US-Russian working group Civil Society, which in his view, resembles a farce.

It is to be recalled that the US-Russian commission was created by Medvedev and Obama in the summer of 2009.

The first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, Vladislav Surkov, heads it from the Russian side, and the U.S. presidential adviser Michael McFaul from the U.S. side.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is going to adopt a resolution in connection with the occupation of Georgia by Russia. The draft resolution reflects important issues such as territorial integrity, de-occupation and ethnic cleansing.

The senators' document urges Russia to fulfill the cease-fire agreement, to carry out the de-occupation and to promote a dignified return of refugees. It recognizes sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.

As stated by the Georgian Acting Ambassador in the United States and Canada Batu Kutelia, the document recognizes sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, and Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia as integral parts of Georgia under Russian occupation.

"This is the main message, which is directed not only at Russia, but at the entire civilized world," Kutelia said.

Georgian minister for Integration into European and Euro-Atlantic Structure Georgi Baramidze, who is currently on a working visit to the United States, noted that "the resolution on occupation would strengthen Georgia's position in the struggle for de-occupation".

It is to be recalled that earlier, U.S. Senator John McCain said that the administration of President Barack Obama should reassess relations with Russia and start selling defensive arms to Georgia.

"Our allies in Central and Eastern Europe view Georgia as a test case for whether the United States will stand by them or not", said the Republican nominee at the presidential election of 2008.

"Russia views Georgia as a test case, too - of how much it can get away with in Georgia", said McCain.

"It is the policy of our government to support Georgia's aspiration to join the NATO. And yet for two years, mostly out of deference to Russia, defensive arms sales have not been authorized for Georgia. This has to change. At a minimum we should provide Georgia with early warning radars..." The Washington Post quoted senator as saying.

Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center

Source: Kavkaz Center.
Link: http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2010/12/11/13122.shtml.