Georgia demands clarification of EU representative's controversial statement

A Georgian leader is set to confront an EU representative about his controversial statement surrounding the independence of South Ossetia.

Russian media stated Philippe Lefort, EU co-chairman of the Geneva Discussions, said: "South Ossetia's status as an independent state is real, at a meeting with South Ossetias de facto President on Monday.

"The status of South Ossetia as a virtually independent state has been determined by its people a long time ago. It is almost impossible to change this stance and this is the reality, with which it is necessary to learn to live and work, Lefort said, according to Russian media reports.

The Georgian Foreign Affairs Ministry said they needed to double-check this information before taking further action.

Minister Maia Panjikidze said she hoped this information was not real and said Georgia would never accept losing its territory.

"At 12 pm tomorrow (January 22), Im having a meeting with him [Philippe Lefort] and I will ask him whether this information is true or not. And if it is true, I will ask him what his answer is, Panjikidze said.

Lefort is expected to arrive in Georgia to hold welfare meetings here.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Georgia, David Zalkaliani, said Lefort had never said anything against Georgia and he had always been an unbiased co-chairman and executed his duties properly.

"That is why I am so surprised by this statement and I do not want to believe this is true, Zalkaliani said, suggesting this could be a journalists interpretation.

He also said if this information proved correct, the Georgian side would take proper steps and address this issue with EU leaders in Brussels and with the EU mission in Tbilisi.

The Georgian State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality is also waiting for an explanation of the controversial statement.

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, who is a participant of the Geneva Discussions, said even though she did not know exactly what Lefort had said, she was sure this opinion would not have expressed the EUs position.

"The EU does always support Georgias territorial unity and sovereignty, she said.

Geneva International Discussions were launched after the August 2008 war. The meetings are co-chaired by representatives from the European Union, United Nations and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE. Representatives from Georgia, Russia, and The United States of America as well as from Sokhumi and Tskhinvali, also take part in the discussions.

Leforts term as EU co-chairman of the Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia is coming to an end. A new co-chairman will be appointed within a month.