US ambassador: message from senior Washington officials “strongly condemns” Lukashenko’s visit to occupied Abkhazia
In her remarks over the matter, Degnan stressed the United States stood “firmly” with the Georgian people, whose “political leaders across the political spectrum have spoken out against this unacceptable visit that violated international laws”. Photo: US Embassy Tbilisi
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US ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Friday said the message from senior officials in Washington “strongly condemned” the visit by Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko to the Russian-occupied Abkhazia this week.
In her remarks over the matter, Degnan stressed the United States stood “firmly” with the Georgian people, whose “political leaders across the political spectrum have spoken out against this unacceptable visit that violated international laws”.
It's particularly painful and I would say offensive that this visit happened a day after we were marking the 29th anniversary of fall of Sokhumi, when I personally and many others were laying a wreath to honour the memory of all those who died in the war in Abkhazia”, Degnan told the local media.
“The United States is a steadfast supporter of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within the nationally recognized boundaries, and we will continue to work for the peaceful restoration of the occupied territories, and for peace throughout this region”, she concluded in her comments.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said the visit by Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko to Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region this week was a “deplorable and severe” step.
Congressman Adam Kinzinger, the co-chair of the Georgia Caucus of the United States House of Representatives, on Thursday said the visit of the Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko to the illegally occupied region of Georgia contradicted international norms.
Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the external affairs of the European Union, on Thursday said the bloc condemned “very strongly” the visit of Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko to Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia on Wednesday.
Ned Price, the United States state department spokesperson, on Wednesday said the US remained “steadfast” in its support for Georgia and for its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and called on Russia to reverse its recognition of the occupied territories.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said the bloc condemned the visit of the president of Belarus to Georgia’s Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia this week and added Aleksandr Lukashenko was “not a legitimate president” of his country.