Presidents of Georgia, Belarus discuss situation in Abkhazia, Tskhinvali region
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Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili worries that international observers lack access to Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Margvelashvili brought this issue up with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk today, where he is on an official state visit.
Margvelashvili mentioned that even the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has been unable to enter the occupied regions despite their mandate. As a result, they have been unable to investigate human rights violations on the Russian-occupied side of the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Georgia and its breakaway regions.
Diplomatic relations between Georgia and Belarus were established in January 1994. Photo by President's press office
A serious reaction from the international community against Russia’s "illegal actions” will help to avoid Russia’s attempts to annex more of Georgian territory, he further added.
Following the Georgia-Russia military armed conflict in 2008, the European Union (EU) developed a policy of engagement but non-recognition with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.
The policy aims at "opening a political and legal space in which the EU can interact with the separatist regions without compromising its commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity”.
As of today, only four countries recognise Georgia’s breakaway regions as independent republics; these are Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.
Georgia and Belarus are discussing ways to improve ties in manufacturing, agricultural and food production – three of the largest sectors of cooperation between the two countries.
A Belarus Embassy has opened in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi today during the inaugural visit of Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei to Georgia.
Georgia is welcoming the arrival of the first Tbilisi-based Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Georgia, Mikhail Miatlikov.
"Our position will be unwavering. Otherwise I would not come to Georgia,” stated Belarus’ president Alexander Lukashenko at a press conference yesterday while commenting on his country’s recognition and support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu has called on the de-facto authorities of Abkhazia to reconsider the closure of two crossing points along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Georgia and its breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Developments in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were among the issues discussed at the United Nations Security Council’s meeting yesterday.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk today. Janelidze is paying a two-day official visit to Belarus upon the invitation of Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei.
Foreign Minister of Belarus Vladimir Makei told his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze in Minsk that "Georgia with its regional transit functions and infrastructural and energy projects may become increasingly interesting to Belarus.”
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko have discussed strengthening cooperation in various fields, including economics and agriculture, which they believe has been especially positive in past years.