EU representative explains controversial statement

"No one should distrust the European Union that it doesn't support Georgias territorial integrity.  

With these words, Philippe Lefort clarified his statement about South Ossetias independence, published by Russian and Ossetian media early this morning, January 21.

Lefort declared that no one should attempt to interpret his words wrongly.

According to Russian media, the EU special representative for South Caucasus and a co-chair of the Geneva Discusson said  South Ossetia's status as an independent state is real, at a meeting with South Ossetias de facto President on Monday.

According to Russian media, Lefort said: "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.

In response to the controversial statement, 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.