Japan calls for peaceful resolution to Tskhinvali region tension

More members of the international community are condemning Russia’s illegal actions at the Administrative Border Line (ABL) in Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region.

The Government of Japan is the latest nation to respond to unlawful movement of Russia’s occupational forces at the ABL, and have called for a peaceful resolution to the mounting tension.

"It is Japan's consistent position that peaceful resolution to the conflict in Georgia's occupied regions of Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in line with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders, is essential for the peace and stability of the country and the entire South Caucasus region,” said the Japanese side.

"Japan's such position remains unchanged on the installation of the "state border" signs close to the Baku-Supsa pipeline.”

The announcement stress Japan opposed any attempt to change Georgia’s internationally recognised borders.

"The above-mentioned points are clearly expressed in the Joint Statement between Japan and Georgia on ‘Solidarity for Peace and Democracy’ signed October 24, 2014 by Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe and President of Georgia, H.E. Mr. Giorgi Margvelashvili during his visit to Japan,” said the Japanese statement.

Japan’s comments come in response to Russia’s illegal actions of erecting new so-called border signs along the ABL between Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and the rest of the country.

On July 10, Russian forces in occupied Tskhinvali installed banners marking the so-called "state border” on the territory adjacent to Tsitelubani village in Gori municipality and Orchosani village in occupied Akhalgori district, in close vicinity to the Tbilisi-Gori central highway. These actions saw Russia’s occupational forces advance 2km into Georgian territory.

The situation at the ABL intensified yesterday after seven armed people in military uniform removed a Georgian flag that had been raised by representatives of Georgian media three days ago instead of the demarcation banner installed by the Russian forces on July 10.

Several members of the international community, including Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Union (EU), United Nations, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, the United States (US) and Ukraine, have already condemned the developments at Georgia’s ABL.