Germany calls Russia-Abkhazia treaty “obstacle to Georgia’s peace”
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A Russian alliance treaty between Moscow and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia is an obstacle to peacefully resolving the conflict, says German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman.
The "Alliance and Strategic Partnership” treaty, signed on November 24 and condemned by Georgia and the international community, "would foster Georgian fears that this region was gradually being annexed by Russia,” Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin on Tuesday.
"By this treaty Moscow is complicating the efforts peacefully resolving the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the framework of the Geneva Talks,” Seibert said.
He reaffirmed Germany "supports Georgia’s territorial integrity” and backed the Caucasus nation’s Association Agreement with the European Union (EU).
"We will continue to support Georgia in its efforts to peacefully reintegrate the breakaway regions, implement the EU association and form good neighborly relations with Russia,” Seibert said.
Russian president Vladimir Putin signed the controversial treaty with de facto Abkhaz leader Raul Khadzhimba in Sochi on Monday. The deal will come into effect on January 1, 2015.
The Georgian Government condemned the treaty and called it "de facto annexation” of its territory.
Abkhazia declared independence in 1999 following a separatist war. Now, the Abkhazia region is recognised as an independent nation by four countries - Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.
Russia recognised Abkhazia's independence after a five-day war with Georgia in 2008 when it helped the separatist region of South Ossetia break away from Georgia.
Georgia’s close neighbour Ukraine is condemning the ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty signed this week between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania has slammed the new alliance between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region and expressed its firm support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
The United States (US) says it will not recognise the legitimacy of any treaty between Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region and the Russian Federation.
NATO is calling on Russia to reverse its recognition of two Georgian lands - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region - as independent states and to withdraw its forces from Georgia.
Russia’s signature of a so-called treaty on ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ with Georgia's breakaway region Abkhazia is detrimental to ongoing efforts to stabilise the security situation in the region, the European Union (EU) says.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and de-facto president of Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia are scheduled to meet in Russia’s Black Sea resort town Sochi today and sign an alliance treaty despite the document being condemned by Georgia and the international community.
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry believes the revised draft treaty on ‘Alliance and Integration’ between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia is a step forward to the annexation of Georgia’s territories.
De-facto Cabinet Ministers of Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region have approved a bilateral treaty between Moscow and Sokhumi that outlined creating joint Russian and Abkhazian military forces.
The European Union (EU) believes the proposed 'Alliance and Integration' draft treaty between Russia and Georgia's breakaway region, the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, undermines the security and stability of the region.
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.
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.
Georgia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Konstantine Korkelia is condemning Russia’s actions of aligning itself closer with Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region, and his comments have been applauded by all but one Council of Europe member states.
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry is again publically condemning the signing of the so-called ‘treaty’ between Moscow and the Sokhumi occupation regime and called it "de-facto annexation” of its territory.
Forging and strengthening international contacts is the best force against the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty signed between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia, says the Georgian Prime Minister’s special representative for relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze.
The condemned Russia-Abkhazia deal will take the limelight at the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council and the Geneva International Discussions, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said.
The Congress of the Council of Europe has condemned the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region.
The United States (US) House of Representatives has unanimously approved a document which strongly condemns Moscow's actions against its neighbours Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Lithuania deeply condemns the deal as Russia is continuing efforts to undermine Georgia’s sovereignty and independence. The Baltic state expressed its firm support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.
Germany supports Georgia's European aspirations – these were the words spoken by German Chancellor Angela Merkel when she spoke to Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in a phone conversation today.