UN General Assembly
2008

and the political opposition as well as the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. We strongly support those efforts. In August, war erupted in the South Caucasus. The conflict in Georgia has not only dramatically affected the region but clearly also entails repercussions that go beyond it. However, not least because of the European Union and its French presidency, the international community has been able to contribute constructively to the process. Now it is up to all parties to the conflict to fulfil the conditions set out in the six-point agreement and the Moscow agreement and to act in a positive spirit to find long- term solutions to the conflict in a peaceful manner that also respects Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. This year saw a new country appear in the Balkans. The United Nations has played a substantial role in promoting Kosovo’s development and is still present in Kosovo with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), together with a new substantial contribution from the EU