Council of Europe speaks out against Russia’s aggressive policy
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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.
Korkelia delivered a speech at the 1,213th session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, while the group discussed the agenda topic ‘Council of Europe and the conflict in Georgia’.
The Georgian Ambassador said the so-called ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty signed between Russia and Abkhazia contradicted principles of international law and was another step towards annexation of occupied Abkhazia.
Korkelia called on the Council of Europe member states to properly evaluate the situation and take "appropriate steps” to ensure these "destructive actions of Russia” do not happen again.
At the Committee meeting European Union (EU) delegation Vice President Federica Mogherini spoke negatively about the signing of the treaty.
"The Russian Federation’s signature today of a so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Strategic Partnership” with Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia is detrimental to ongoing efforts to stabilise the security situation in the region,” Mogherini’s statement read.
"Just like earlier agreements signed between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia, this violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, contradicts principles of international law and the international commitments of the Russian Federation, including the 12 August 2008 Agreement and its Implementing Measures of 8 September 2008,” she said.
"The EU reiterates its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.”
Signing of the controversial deal has generated significant backlash from the international community. Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova, Ukraine and San Marino aligned themselves with the EU’s statement.
During the Committee meeting Council of Europe member state representatives delivered speeches and all but one expressed firm support for the Georgian delegation. The Russian delegation was the only country to have a different position than all other Council of Europe member states.
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.
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.
The EU said Mogherini would come to Georgia after completing her November 9 visit to Ukraine. She was due to be in Georgia on Tuesday, November 10.
"Georgia has fulfilled many significant obligations and should keep following the same path in order to get positive recommendation at the end of the year in terms of visa liberalisation,” believes European Union (EU) top official Federica Mogherini.
High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, has congratulated Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikahsvili on appointing the post.
The European Union (EU) will support Georgian reforms and especially encourage the development of private sector, Georgian and EU top officials agreed in Munich, Germany this evening.