Foreign Ambassadors welcome PM’s initiative to work with occupied regions

Foreign Ambassadors accredited in Georgia have positively assessed Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s offer of ‘broad autonomy’ to breakaway Abkhazian and Tskhinvaliregions (so-called South Ossetia).

Ambassadors of the United States (US), Switzerland and Bulgaria independently told journalists their countries were committed to supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The diplomats each said that actions directed against Georgia’s territorial integrity and towards its annexation will have no international support.

"I welcome any proposal of the Georgian Government which will be directed towards solving the conflict and within which it will be possible to use the support of [the] Geneva Negotiations,” US Ambassador Richard Norland noted.

Ambassador of Switzerland Guenther Baechler was also positive about Garibashvili’s initiative and expressed his concern over the ‘Integration and Alliance’ treaty to be formed by Russia and Abkhazia.

Baechler noted he would travel to Abkhazia next week to discuss details of the treaty.

"The treaty has not been signed yet. As we see, Abkhazians themselves are not satisfied with the document. Georgia should engage into negotiations, so that they find [a] common way towards Europe. I am confident that [the] Abkhazian population wants this as well. Next week I will travel to Abkhazia and negotiate with the new Government,” he said.

Ambassador of Bulgaria Plamen Bonchev also drew attention to the proposed treaty and noted a more in-depth analysis of the situation was needed.

"Bulgaria and the international community are closely watching the development in Abkhazia, in particular with regards to Russia’s proposal,” he said.

"Every step directed towards isolation and annexation of Abkhazia is definitely unacceptable and it will not have international support,” he said.