Dmitry Medvedev: The world is a different place since August
“The world is a different place since August. We have all witnessed the collapse of the old world order as a new and hopefully safer and more just world has emerged on its ruins.”
Russia will continue to uphold its interests by various means, but primarily through political negotiations, said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. “Russia is a state that can stand up for its citizens and that all countries have to reckon with, including those that hide behind their friendship with major powers,” Dmitry Medvedev said presenting decorations to the servicemen who took part in the operation in South Ossetia. “We do not intend to tolerate arbitrary behaviour and, if necessary, we will continue to uphold our interests by various means, although, of course, the political factor and political negotiations will be given priority and play the main part because this is a manifestation of our peaceloving foreign policy,” the president stressed. Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26. The peoples of those republics asked for the recognition of their independence after the events of August 8-12, when Georgia launched a military operation in South Ossetia.
At the time Georgian troops destroyed the capital of the Republic, Tskhinval, and manycommunities, killing about 1500 civilians, according to South Ossetian data.
Tbilisi was also planning a massive aggression against Abkhazia. “The world is a different place since August. We have all witnessed the collapse of the old world order as a new and hopefully safer and more just world has emerged on its ruins,” Mr Medvedev said. He stressed that Russia’s actions to rescue the people of South Ossetia and protect Russia’s interests were based on international law. “I am delighted to be able to thank you for what you have done because but for your sense of duty and your service at that critical period, history might have taken a different turn. We are proud of you.
Thank you for your service, we rely on you,” Mr Medvedev told the servicemen. He said that two months ago Russia “was faced with a choice: either to do nothing and turn a blind eye to gross violations of international commitments, to the deaths of its citizens, including peacekeepers, or to give a robust rebuff to the aggressor. We have opted for the latter and we were right,” the Russian President said.
ALEXY II PRAYS FOR VICTIMS OF THE SOUTH OSSETIAN CONFLICT
“O Lord, grant peace to all Thy servantsin the Caucasian land, especiallythe long-suffering people of South Ossetia. Confirm in them love one for another. Extinguish every dispute.”
Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia prayed for peacekeeper soldiers and civilians who died in
the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia. “Absolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants from every bond of sin,” the Patriarch prayed during service at the Intercession Cathedral of Sts Martha and Mary’s Convent of Charity in Moscow.
All Moscow churches, monasteries under the Patriarchal jurisdiction and Patriarchal metochions held remembrance services.
A prayer for peace in the Caucasus, composed for the occasion, says: “O Lord, grant peace to all Thy servants in the Caucasian land, especially the long-suffering people of South Ossetia.
Confirm in them love one for another. Extinguish every dispute and banish all temptations to disagreement.”
Blog
