Georgia’s religious leader says Russia violated international law
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Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church Patriarch Ilia II is condemning the signing of the so-called ‘treaty’ between Moscow and the Sokhumi occupation regime and is calling the situation a "violation of international laws” by the Russian Federation.
Patriarch Ilia II believed the ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty that has been openly criticized by Georgia and the international community, even worsened the already complex political situation between Georgia and Russia and further distanced the Georgia and Abkhazian people.
"The agreement ignored internationally recognised principles, according to which the decision of the local indigenous population has to be considered. Everyone knows that in our case, the majority of those population have been displaced for more than 20 years thus these people did not participate in the decision making process of the fate of this territory,” the Patriarch said in a statement today.
The religious leader focused that Georgia had not had the opportunity to satisfy the religious requirements of the church congregation who lived in Abkhazia, which was a further of international laws. "Of course it is a very sad reality that we will never tolerate,” Patriarch Ilia II said.
"Sooner or later Georgia will regain a brotherly relationship with Abkhazian and Ossetians as well as territorial integrity because truth and justice will prevail.” Russia and breakaway Abkhazia signed the so-called treaty on November 24.
The deal will come into force on January 1, 2015. It outlined creating a "common defence and security space”, "implementing a coordinated foreign policy” and "establishing common social and economic area".
Georgian officials were confident the document was directed against Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and constituted a further step taken by Russia towards the annexation of Georgia's occupied Abkhazia region.
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.
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.
Today the Catholics Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II turned 83. He has leaded a spiritual life of the Orthodox Georgian parish for 38 years on.
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Georgia’s Patriarch Ilia II will depart for Russia shortly after the first session of the country’s new Parliament, expected to be held on November 18.