Brussels, 11 August 2008: The ITUC and the European Trade
Union Confederation have expressed their grave concerns at the
escalation of the conflict between Georgia and Russia, its impact on
civilians and the deepening threat to stability in the region.

"We call upon all parties involved to observe an immediate and total
cease-fire, and enter negotiations to bring an end to the conflict and
to resolve the underlying issues which have led to it," said ITUC
General Secretary Guy Ryder.

Some 2,000 people are believed to have been killed in South Ossetia, and
100 or more in Georgia, with many more wounded. Ten members of the
Dockworkers’ Union in the Georgian port of Poti are reported killed and
15 injured. Tens of thousands of refugees are understood to have been
displaced from South Ossetia and neighbouring areas, underlining the
urgent need for a major humanitarian effort alongside peace talks.

ITUC affiliates in Russia (FNPR) and Georgia (GTUC) have both called on
the international trade union movement to support efforts to put a stop
to the fighting, and the ITUC is maintaining close contact with them.

"We are also appealing to the United Nations, to the European Union and
to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to put their
full weight behind the quest for a peaceful, negotiated end to this
conflict," said Ryder.

Joint ITUC-ETUC Statement of 8 August

The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories
and has 311 national affiliates.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2
224 0210.