Council of Europe speaks out against Russia’s aggressive policy

Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Konstantine Korkelia is condemning Russia’s actions of aligning itself closer with Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region, and his comments have been applauded by all but one Council of Europe member states.

Korkelia delivered a speech at the 1,213th session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, while the group discussed the agenda topic ‘Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia’.

The Georgian Ambassador said the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty signed between Russia and Abkhazia contradicted principles of international law and was another step towards annexation of occupied Abkhazia.

Korkelia called on the Council of Europe member states to properly evaluate the situation and take "appropriate steps” to ensure these "destructive actions of Russia” do not happen again.

At the Committee meeting European Union (EU) delegation Vice President Federica Mogherini spoke negatively about the signing of the treaty.

"The Russian Federation’s signature today of a so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership” with Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia is detrimental to ongoing efforts to stabilise the security situation in the region,” Mogherini’s statement read.

"Just like earlier agreements signed between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia, this violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, contradicts principles of international law and the international commitments of the Russian Federation, including the 12 August 2008 Agreement and its Implementing Measures of 8 September 2008,” she said.

"The EU reiterates its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.”

Signing of the controversial deal has generated significant backlash from the international community. Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova, Ukraine and San Marino aligned themselves with the EU’s statement.

During the Committee meeting Council of Europe member state representatives delivered speeches and all but one expressed firm support for the Georgian delegation. The Russian delegation was the only country to have a different position than all other Council of Europe member states.