South Ossetia’s de-facto leader wants to join Russia
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De-facto leader of Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali’s (South Ossetia) region, Leonid Tibilov, believes there is a possibility the breakaway region’s accession into Russia will be considered in the proposed integration treaty between Moscow and Tskhinvali.
Tibilov told rec.ru, the news agency of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia, that the new treaty on ‘Alliance and Partnership’ would consider the direct accession of Tskhinvali as well as other international rules of joining the Russian Federation.
"I came up with an initiative to discuss direct accession of Tskhinvali into the Russian Federation in the future agreement than [possible] other forms of integration. There are various forms of political co-existence of the countries. I believe we will get an answer to our offer in the nearest future,” Tibilov said.
In November, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and the leader of Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region Raul Khajimba signed a new treaty between Moscow and Sokhumi on ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’. Since then South Ossetia’s leader also expressed interest in signing a similar agreement with Russia.
The treaty with Abkhazia has been condemned by Georgia and the international community, but Russian officials rejected accusations that newly signed alliance treaty between Moscow and Sokhumi was a step towards the annexation of Georgia's breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
Meanwhile, in the interview Tibilov stated a number of proposals have already been considered in the draft. "[We] have already had a consultation with Russian officials including Oleg Govorun, who is the head of the Presidential Directorate for Social and Economic Cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States Member Countries (CIS), the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia.”
He also confirmed that during the discussions with Russian officials, topics like security cooperation, development of law enforcement agencies, culture, education and healthcare were high on the agenda.
Official Tbilisi condemns Russian-Tskhinvali draft treaty
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry believes the draft treaty on ‘Alliance and Partnership’ between Moscow and Tskhinvali is a step forward to the annexation of Georgia’s territories.
Georgia’s Foreign Minister’s Speaker Davit Kereselidze was confident the document was illegal and it would not be recognised by the international society.
"Official Tbilisi condemns the proposed treaty between Russia and Tskhinvali and undermines the security and stability of the region. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has already started negotiations both in bilateral and multilateral formats with our partners,” Kereselidze said at a special press conference today.
"This is a destructive action,” he said.
Russia recognised the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvlai after the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.
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.
Georgian Foreign Ministry calls on the international community to take all possible measures to prevent the annexation of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (so-called South Ossetia) by Russia.
De facto leaders of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) have sent a draft treaty on alliance and integration between Moscow and Tskhinvali to Russia.
De facto leadership from Georgia's occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region are reportedly discussing the possibility of creating aviation ties with Russia.
No referendum in Georgia's Russian-occupied regions will have" any legal force" under the conditions of the occupation, Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Thursday in response to the information on the de facto authorities in the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region planning to hold a referendum on joining the Russian Federation.