McCain, Obama Call For Russia To Withdraw From Georgia

Fri, August 08, 2008 - 11:44 AM

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both are urging the United Nations to get involved in convincing Russia today to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces from Georgian territory.

Here’s what Republican McCain says:

"The U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE (the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)o put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course it has chosen. We should immediately call a meeting of the North Atlantic Council to assess Georgia's security and review measures NATO can take to contribute to stabilizing this very dangerous situation. Finally, the international community needs to establish a truly independent and neutral peacekeeping force in South Ossetia."

Obama says:

“Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint, and to avoid an escalation to full scale war. Georgia’s territorial integrity must be respected. All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia, and the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis.”

-- Billy House