Georgian FM: restoring ties with Russia possible only after its forces are withdrawn from Georgian territory
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has participated in the presentation of the ruling party election programme in Gori earlier today. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that the restoration of relations with Russia is possible only after the country withdraws its forces from Georgian territory.
The deoccupation of our territories is the precondition for the restoration of relations with Russia,” Zalkaliani said earlier today, during the presentation of the Georgian Dream ruling party election program in Gori, in the worst-affected town during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Zalkaliani said that the non-recognition of Georgia’s two Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states has been one of the priorities of the current government.
Two states have withdrawn their recognition of the regions as independent states thanks to our efforts. We will not stop. We will bring the process to an end so that Russia stays alone (in the fight). Russia must also withdraw its recognition of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. There is no other way for the restoration of ties,” Zalkaliani said.
Only Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria have recognised Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent states so far.
The rest of the international community says that the regions are occupied by Russia.
Russia and Georgia suspended diplomatic ties in 2008.
Since then only economic and trade relations were partly restored in 2013, under the Georgian Dream leadership.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has called upon the international community to react to the violation of elementary humanitarian principles in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region after the confiscation and prohibition of Georgian-labeled medicines from the occupied territory.
Georgia's role in the wider Black Sea region, the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the occupation of its territories, security challenges in the region, and hybrid threats were the main topics of an address delivered by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI).
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has delivered his first speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as the head of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), stating that consolidated, international pressure against Russian illegal activities in Georgia and other countries must continue.“Situation in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali has become worse."
Georgian Foreign Ministry David Zalkaliani has stated that the humanitarian crisis in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions [of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali] is one of the major challenges for the government, responding to the recent death of a woman in Tskhinvali due to the closed ‘checkpoint” with the breakaway region. He again raised the issue while meeting with the US Department of States Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center Lea Gabrielle earlier today.
The candidate for Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated in parliament earlier today that Russia, as an occupying country, has tripled its efforts in the international arena against Georgia’s territorial integrity. "Russia is doing its best to assure the international community that Georgia’s two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali are independent states,” Zalkaliani stated at the joint session of Parliament’s Committee for European Integration, Diaspora and Caucasus Issues and Foreign Issues Committee.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has responded to the first resolution adopted by the new parliament of Georgia which concerns the country’s foreign policy priorities, stating that the adoption of the resolution is a ‘clear message to all our partners on Georgia’s key priorities and goals.’