Georgian FM: gov't to use "all opportunities" with Geneva discussions to stop unlawful borderisation
Georgian foreign minister Zalkaliani (third from left) met co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on the subject of unlawful borderisation activities along the occupation line. Phoho: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia press office.
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani has told reporters his office will use "all available opportunities" to prevent unlawful actions along the administrative boundary line separating Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions from the rest of Georgia.
Zalkaliani spoke following his meeting with co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, a platform for in international talks launched between the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia that has seen the two regions occupied by Russian military.
The foreign minister told reporters the meeting had concerned the process of "unlawful borderisation" on the administrative line - the demarcation and moving of the separation line by occupying forces intermittently taking place in locations adjacent to the ABL.
We will use all available opportunities, all formats in all three organisations in order to avoid unlawful actions in the future," Zalkaliani noted in his comments.
Co-chairs of the GID visited villages adjacent to the occupied regions to survey circumstances following most recent developments next to the ABL, the minister said, adding a Thursday meeting on incident prevention would involve talks on mechanisms to stop the unlawful borderisation.
Zalkaliani spoke to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the subject of the occupation and borderisation activities in a phone call earlier today.
The Georgian FM said he had also spoken to Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission and Miroslav Lajcak, Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to make sure their representatives travelled to Georgia in the wake of recent developments along the ABL.
The representatives had travelled to Georgia early due to the "unacceptable" conditions in the affected areas, where they could study the circumstances and offer reaction, Zalkaliani told the media.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have held a phone conversation today. David Zalkaliani provided Guterres with information on the situation in the Russia-occupied regions of Georgia. The latest developments along the occupation line have also been discussed including the illegal erection of a‘border’ and detentions.
A Russian SUS aircraft violated Georgian airspace at about 12:00 near the village of Gugutiantkari today. The State Security Service of Georgia has confirmed the violation and stated the move is ‘yet another provocation by Russia.’
Ambassadors of different countries to Georgia unanimously condemn the creeping occupation of Georgia by Russia and call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw troops from Georgia. The ambassadors of Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Israel, Brazil and Japan have visited the village of Gugutiantkari, Gori Municipality today to observe the illegal ‘borderisation’ Russian occupants have been carrying out since August 7.
The United States calls on Russia to suspend its illegal occupation of Georgian territory, the US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus stated at a press conference yesterday. She said the US is “troubled by reports that Russian-backed de-facto authorities have resumed the installation of fencing on Georgian territory.”
Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), who met with the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani on Wednesday, have released a statement on the “borderisation” process near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
Russian occupation forces have appeared near the village of Chorchana, Khashuri Municipality today. The village is located in the vicinity of the Russia - occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The State Security Service of Georgia reports that military equipment of the occupation forces has been detected moving in the area.
De facto official of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, Egor Kochiev said the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in Khashuri Municipality, close to Tskhinvali should be dismantled by 6 a.m. Friday, August 30.
Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) said the closure of the crossing points between Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the rest of Georgia “is creating additional hardship for the local people and is further raising tensions”.
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia said the main issues that will be discussed at the ongoing Geneva International Discussions (GID) include the recent developments along the occupation line.
US Air Force Commander (EUCOM)/NATO General Tod Wolters has stated that in the Caucasus, where Russia occupies the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, ‘Georgia continues to be a steadfast partner and contributor to global security.’