PACE members concerned by Russia-Abkhazia treaty
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The proposed 'Alliance and Integration' treaty between Russia and Georgia's breakaway region, the self-proclaimed "Republic of Abkhazia” violates international law, co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) say.
PACE co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Georgia Michael Aastrup Jensen (Denmark, ALDE) and Boriss Cilevics (Latvia, SOC) expressed their "deep concern” at the treaty, saying it was "another example of annexation”.
"This proposed agreement violates international law and is another example of the creeping annexation of the Georgian region of Abkhazia by the Russian Federation,” they said.
"Instead of creating new barriers between peoples, Russia should rather encourage and facilitate contacts between people residing in Abkhazia and those in the rest of Georgia.”
The two co-rapporteurs said they would visit Georgia from December 3-5 in the framework of the ongoing monitoring procedure in respect of Georgia.
A Kremlin proposed new treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and Russia will be signed by the end of this year, Abkhazia’s de-facto leader Raul Khajimba announced.
NATO’s top regional representative said there was "strong concern” in the Alliance about the Kremlin-proposed ‘Alliance and Integration’ treaty Russia aimed to make with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia.
Georgian authorities condemned the proposed treaty believed such an agreement was a "violation” of the fundamental principles of international law and commitment.
Two officials from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) are in Georgia on a fact-finding mission to the country.
Head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt is on his first official visit to Georgia.