Plea from the Georgian Environmental Minister

How ridiculous is this scenario... that The Russians fire-bomb a national park, and then deny volunteer fire fighting airplanes from Turkey and Azerbaijan to assist, as well as blocking the highway for fire-fighting trucks and teams. In other words... "just watch it burn on TV, motherf***... (evil laughter)."

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Read this plea from the Georgian Environmental Minister to foreign governments and NGOs:


"The Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia
urgently tries to attract the attention of all relevant international
organizations to the dramatic situation created in Georgia with regard to
the forest burning in several regions of the country as a result of Russian
bombing, particularly in Borjomi region, where unique forests are burning
creating danger also to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park which is situated
in immediate proximity to these forests.

On August 15, after the attack of Russian military forces' helicopters, fire
started in the Borjomi region forests affecting some part of
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Since Saturday (August 16) we have been
trying to put out the fire in Borjomi region forests, but almost 200 ha of
unique forest is already burnt. The aim was to create an ecological
catastrophe in the country.

All local recourses: fire brigades, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park staff,
Environment Inspectorate and local communities are involved in putting out
the fire. The situation is quite dramatic since fire has caused great losses
in biodiversity.

Since the morning of the eighteenth of August fire fighting aircraft from
Turkey are already assisting to put out the fire. While the Ukraine and
Azerbaijan, both are ready to do the same. Fire engines and fire brigades
from Tbilisi are ready to enter the region, but highway from the capital of
Georgia to Gori-Borjomi direction is under the Russian military forces
control.

To avoid ecological catastrophe in the region we are calling all interested
organizations' attention to react to the situation in Borjomi region.

The Ministry is asking for your help to convince Russian to open air and
terrestrial corridor, which would let fire fighting aircraft, fire engines
and fire brigades enter the Borjomi District and make possible putting out
the fire there."

This information was sent by info@cenn.org