Georgian FM, EU special representative discuss regional security environment

The security environment in the Black Sea region following the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and the challenges facing Georgia in the circumstances, were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between David Zalkaliani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia.

The need for Russia to fulfil its international obligations - including the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement that put an end to the five-day war between Russia and Georgia - as well as efforts of the Georgian authorities to resolve the Russian-Georgian conflict peacefully were discussed, MFA of Georgia said.

Another focus of the meeting concerned the difficult security, humanitarian and human rights situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and the need for an active involvement of European and international partners.

The conversation also concerned the Geneva International Talks - a platform facilitating discussions between the Georgian Government and de-facto authorities on the occupied territories - and highlighted the need to use the format effectively for achieving “tangible” results. 

The parties also discussed the need to restore Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism discussions in the town of Gali, in the occupied north-western region of Abkhazia, without preconditions.

The two officials also talked about the prospect of holding regular Ergneti meetings concerning the situation along the administrative boundary line that separates central Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the Georgian-controlled territory.