Tusk praises Georgia for “responsible” reaction to Russia’s “provocations”

European Council (EC) President Donald Tusk has praised the Georgian Government for its "responsible” reaction to Russia’s recent "provocations” along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Georgia’s breakaway region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the rest of the country.

This morning, Tusk visited the ABL and saw "how the infrastructure of separation continues to be put in place along the boundary”.

After returning to Tbilisi, Tusk told Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili he "appreciated” Georgia’s response to the recent developments in the occupation zone.

Listen to the full statement by President Tusk below.

"Let me say Mr. Prime Minister that I really appreciate your very responsible reaction,” Tusk said.

"I think it’s very important not only for Georgia, but for the whole region and the whole of Europe to manage this problem responsibly and with cold blood”.

The EC President suggested in his remarks that the goal of the Russian "provocations” was to trigger an "overreacted” response from Georgia.

"It is very important for us to be tough but also very responsible,” he said.

• On July 10, Russian occupation forces installed signposts marking so called border between occupied Tskhinvali and the rest of Georgia. This action saw Russia expend its occupation 2km deeper into Georgian territory. The Georgian Government was criticised by opposition for its "mild reaction” to this "creeping occupation”.

Meanwhile, Tusk and Garibashvili discussed Georgia’s progress in the process of fulfilling its obligations needed for visa free travel to Europe.

Tusk said Georgia had made "good progress” in the process of visa liberalisation with the European Union (EU) and "if this progress continues […] I think you will be able to successfully finalise this process in the near future.”

The parties also discussed Georgia’s domestic policy. The EC President said: "All parties must do their utmost to avoid politics of extremes. Legal process should be free from political motivation; this matters first place for Georgia but also for our relations.”

Meanwhile today Tusk met the Georgian troops deployed under EU Operations in the Central African Republic and thanked them for their service.

Meeting with Georgian troops deployed under the EU Operations in the Central African Republic pic.twitter.com/rFTK5T6Rut

— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) July 21, 2015

"The EU highly appreciates your commitment,” Tusk told the soldiers and added he, personally, was "very proud” of what Georgian soldiers had done for world peace.

While in Tbilisi, Tusk met members of Georgian opposition parties too.

This was his first visit to Georgia as EC President.