EU supports Georgia’s territorial integrity despite Russia-breakaway Abkhazia deal

The Russia-breakaway Abkhazia partnership treaty will not change anything in the European Union’s (EU) approach and the organisation remains committed to Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia Toivo Klaar declared the EU’s position towards the treaty at his farewell meeting with Georgia’s Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili.

"From the European Union’s position we recognise the territorial integrity of Georgia,” he said.

"The so-called treaty will not change anything in the European Union’s approach and we have to be calm and we are to be collected in analysing this”.

The sides discussed possible resolutions to the crisis and what options Georgia had to re-establish relations between Tbilisi and Sokhumi, the capital of breakaway Abkhazia.

Usupashvili and Klaar also spoke about Klaar’s resignation in several weeks.

"I assured the Speaker of Parliament that a new head of the mission will be appointed in the very near future and the commitment of the European Union remains as strong as it has always been towards Georgia,’’ Klaar said after the meeting.

Klaar was appointed head of the EUMM to Georgia in September 2013. He recently announced his early resignation from the post citing personal reasons.

EUMM Georgia is an independent body that supported the stabilisation of the situation on the ground and centred on full compliance with the six-point agreement signed by Georgia and the Russian Federation in August 2008, after the Russia-Georgia war. The organisation contributes to the reduction of tensions through liaison, facilitation of contacts between parties and other confidence-building measures.

The mission has been active in Georgia since October 2008, beginning with oversight of the withdrawal of Russian armed forces from the areas adjacent to Georgia’s two breakaway regions, Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia.