Georgian FM, EU special representative discuss regional security environment
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. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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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.
It is “extremely important” for the European Union that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova are “under its umbrella”, Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and Vice Parliament Speaker, said on Wednesday.
The situation created by the armed conflict taking place in Ukraine, the ongoing occupation of Georgian regions, and release of Georgian citizens illegally arrested by occupation forces were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia, and Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia.
Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani and US Senator Jeanne Shaheen reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the wake of war in the country on Tuesday.
The official application submitted by Georgia for European Union membership, and the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, were discussed by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo in a phone call on Tuesday.
I hope that NATO countries will soon make a political decision on Georgia's membership in the alliance, Nikoloz Samkharadze, the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) MP who chairs the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Wednesday during the meeting with Alexander Vinnikov, the new head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia.
Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze said the country’s Government and Prime Minister had designated it as the “stated policy” to “avoid all risks to the country”, with the official making the remark to local reporters after a sitting of the Parliamentary Confidence Group in a closed format today.
Long-term plans for the development of Georgian Defence Forces (GDF), strengthening their capabilities, issues of cybersecurity and NATO cooperation were some of the topics discussed by Minister Juansher Burchuladze and the Parliamentary Confidence Group earlier today.
The security environment complicated by the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the political and humanitarian assistance to the country, were discussed by Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and his Czech counterpart Jan Lipavsky in a phone call on Thursday.
A humanitarian aid package for Ukraine has been collected throughout Georgia following a decision by the Prime Minister, with 100 tons of aid prepared to be dispatched to the country on the backdrop of Russia's invasion.