European People’s Party urges Russia to respect Georgia’s territorial integrity
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The European People’s Party (EPP) has "strongly condemned” Russia’s installation of new signposts that effectively redraws the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) of breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and extending its occupation two kilometres deeper into Georgian territory.
"Russia is further provoking Georgia by creating tensions in the region and depriving the local population of fragile peace. Such actions pose a serious danger to Georgian safety and to the regional and energy security of the South Caucasus region,” said EPP president Joseph Daul.
"Russia’s appetite to acquire control over nearby parts of the Caspian-Black Sea (Baku-Supsa) oil pipeline and the subsequent energy deliveries is one of the main reasons to advance their presence further into Georgian territory,” he said.
The EPP, which is the largest political party in the European Parliament, also called on Russia to fully implement the 2008 EU-brokered ceasefire agreement, including providing the EU Monitoring Mission with "full and unimpeded access” to the territories of Georgia it occupied.
'"Furthermore, the EPP calls upon the European External Action Service and the European Commission to follow the situation closely and to undertake adequate diplomatic actions,” the EPP’s statement read.
"Today 20 percent of Georgia’s territory is illegally occupied by Russia: South Ossetia and Abkhazia are integral parts of Georgia. The EPP strongly supports Georgia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence,” said the EPP.
The statement comes seven days after Russia illegally erected new so-called border signs along the ABL between Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and the rest of the country.
On July 10, Russian forces in occupied Tskhinvali installed banners marking the so-called "state border” on the territory adjacent to Tsitelubani village in Gori municipality and Orchosani village in occupied Akhalgori district, in close vicinity to the Tbilisi-Gori central highway. These actions saw Russia’s occupational forces advance 2km into Georgian territory.
The situation at the ABL intensified yesterday after seven armed people in military uniform removed a Georgian flag that had been raised by representatives of Georgian media three days ago instead of the demarcation banner installed by the Russian forces on July 10.
Several members of the international community, includingParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Union(EU), United Nations, Czech Republic, Japan, Lithuania, Latvia, the United States (US) and Ukraine, have already condemned the developments at Georgia’s ABL.
More members of the international community are condemning Russia’s illegal actions at the Administrative Border Line (ABL) in Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region.
The people of Lithuania have ventured out into the capital city in a public show of support for Georgia’s territorial integrity following Russia’s creeping occupation into Georgian territory.
The United Nations Secretary-General is the latest international official to condemn Russia’s illegal actions at the Administrative Border Line (ABL) in Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region.
The situation along the administrative boundary line of Georgia's breakaway region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) today became tense after seven armed people in military uniform removed the Georgian flag away from the so-called border.
The leader of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed her grave concern about Russia’s recent efforts to move deeper into Georgian territory and change the Administrative Border Line (ABL) in Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region,.
The European Union says Russia's actions at the administrative boundary line (ABL) in Georgia's breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region are unlawful and "provocative".
Lithuania has expressed its "grave concern” over the ongoing "borderization” process along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Georgia’s occupied region Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the remaining territory of Georgia.
The global community is concerned by Russia’s creeping occupation into Georgian soil and is urging the giant nation to respect Georgia’s territorial integrity.
Tbilisi is calling on the global community to "properly respond” to Russia’s "illegal actions” of creeping occupation at the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and the rest of Georgia.
Russia has advanced its creeping occupation into Georgian territory, resulting in a portion of the BP-operated Baku–Supsa Pipeline now under Russian control in the breakaway Tskinvali region (South Ossetia).
The tense situation along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) and the rest of Georgia has intensified after a Georgian man was kidnapped by Russian servicemen from Tbilisi-controlled territory today.
More members of the international community voice their concern over Russia’s illegal actions at the Administrative Border Line (ABL) in Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).
The Georgian high official met Vice President of the European People’s Party (EPP) David McAllister in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi earlier this afternoon.