US Assistant Secretary visits occupation line
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The US Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron Wess Mitchell visited the village Odzisi today, at the occupation line between Georgia and its occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
Mitchell stated that his country firmly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and welcomes the peace initiatives by the government of Georgia to achieve the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Ten years have passed since the war [Russia-Georgia 2008 war] and I am here to remind Russia that we have not forgotten the events. We do not recognise the occupation line as a state border. We care about the security of the Georgian people who live beyond the occupation line,” Mitchell said.
We condemn any cases of detention, torture and murder of Georgia citizens and offer our condolences to the families of the victims,” he stated.
Mitchell called on Russia to adhere to its obligations taken through the August 12, 2008 ceasefire deal with Georgia, withdraw its recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states, as well as its forces from the territory of Georgia.
Mitchell arrived to Georgia on April 29 and will leave Georgia later today.
The US Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron Wess Mitchell stated at a NATO-Georgia public diplomacy forum in Tbilisi today that the US President Donald Trump supports the 2008 NATO Bucharest declaration and appeals to alliance member states to adhere to the obligations taken within the declaration.
The forum was opened by PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikheil Janelidze. President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili and Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze also provided a keynote address at the forum, as well as the US Assistant Secretary Aaron Wess Mitchell and NATO’s Assistant Secretary General Tacan Ildem.
During his visit Dr. Mitchell will meet with senior government officials as well as with other political leaders, representatives of civil society, and the American Chamber of Commerce to reinforce US support for Georgia’s aspirations to integrate into Euro-Atlantic institutions.
The United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wes Mitchell has expressed his appreciation for the US-Georgia partnership. Mitchell had a phone conversation with the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili yesterday.
The committee of Ministers' Deputies has assessed the initiative "as a vivid sign of Georgia’s firm commitment to promote confidence and interaction between the societies split by the dividing lines.”
The US Department of State Spokesperson has briefed public about the US Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Aaron Wess Mitchell’s recent visit to Georgia and Ukraine.
The major topic of discussion at the meeting was the Georgian Government’s peace initiative A Step to a Better Future which seeks to improve the socio-economic conditions of the populations in occupied Regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the US Helsinki Commission, which is an independent agency of the US government, has held a hearing about the illegalities committed by Russia on Georgian territory.