NATO: Russia-Tskhinvali deal violates Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity
Tweet 
Share
NATO does not recognise the so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” signed between the Russian Federation and Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on 18 March.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg released a statementyesterday that stated the so-called treaty was "yet another move by the Russian Federation that hampers ongoing efforts by the international community to strengthen security and stability in the region”.
Stoltenberg said the deal violated Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and "blatantly contradicts” the principles of international law, OSCE principles and Russia’s international commitments.
"South Ossetia and Abkhazia are integral parts of Georgia. NATO fully supports Georgia’s sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We continue to call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states and to withdraw its forces from Georgia,” he said.
The international community has openly condemned the so-called deal between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway regions, with many officials noting this was "yet another step that goes against ongoing efforts to strengthen security and stability in the region”.
The de facto leaders of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the Russian Federation will sign a so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” today. The global community is assessing this as "yet another step that goes against ongoing efforts to strengthen security and stability in the region”.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and de facto leader of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) Leonid Tibilov signed a so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” in Moscow today.
A handful of European countries have openly stated they do not recognise the so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” between Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the Russian Federation.
Georgia is blaming Russia for its "deliberate affront” to the international community and the peace process.
A Georgian delegation led by First Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua has departed for Switzerland where the 31st round of the Geneva International Discussions convene on March 17 and 18.
A proposal to sign a closer cooperation treaty between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway Tskinvali region (South Ossetia) will soon be submitted to the Russian President for review.
The Russian President’s aide Vladislav Surkov in charge of overseeing Moscow’s relations with Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) believes the planned treaty between Moscow and Tskhinvali will be signed early 2015.
The United Kingdom (UK) is pledging to offer €28 million (64.8 million GEL) to Georgia and other Eastern European countries who are facing oppression by Russia.
The Russian Federation’s claims that Tbilisi’s refusal to stop calling Sokhumi and Tskinvali as "occupied regions”, as well as Georgia’s aspirations towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration are an obstruction towards normalising Russia-Georgia relations, have been slammed by Georgian officials.
Russia must take responsibility for its damaging actions in Georgia and Ukraine, believes Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruachashvili.
Tbilisi has expressed its "extreme concern” and condemned Russia’s military exercises launched on Wednesday in Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).