Russia-Abkhazia deal “raises threats and challenges for Georgia”, says EU Integration Minister

The ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty signed between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia is a challenge for Georgia and for European and Euro-Atlantic security, believes Georgia’s State Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Minister David Bakradze responded to the recent developments in Abkhazia after meeting with head of European Union (EU) delegation to Georgia Janos Herman today.

The Minister noted the meeting covered this and other important topics, including implementation of reforms outlined in the Georgia-EU Association Agreement and Georgia’s preparation for the Eastern Partnership Summit 2015 to be held in Riga, Latvia.

"Despite the fact that the treaty is not legitimate according to international law, of course it causes a lot of concern,” he said.

"This raises threats and challenges for Georgia and for the European and Euro-Atlantic security architecture. Therefore actions of the Georgian Government are directed towards mobilising the international community so that the pressure and the successive and firm policy from EU and Euro-Atlantic structures continues until a result is reached,” he said.

Bakradze also noted that the Georgian Government will focus its efforts on European and Euro-Atlantic integration and for opening European and Euro-Atlantic perspectives for Georgian citizens, including those who lived breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).