Russian official’s statement is “continuation” of occupation, “another attempt” to violate Georgia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity - Foreign Ministry
The foreign office called on Russia to respect the fundamental principles and norms of international law and fulfil its obligations and commitments under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, on the 15th anniversary of the August war. Photo via MFA of Georgia
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The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the statement of Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chair of the Security Council of Russia, about Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) was a “continuation” of occupation and “another attempt” to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.
The Ministry’s comment followed today’s statement by Medvedev, in which he said that “the idea of joining Russia is still popular in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and it can be implemented if there is a good reason for it”.
The foreign office called on Russia to respect the fundamental principles and norms of international law and fulfil its obligations and commitments under the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, on the 15th anniversary of the August war.
Georgia “firmly” adheres to the peaceful policy of conflict resolution, the state body stressed, adding the policy would ensure the de-occupation of the country’s territories and reconciliation of war-divided communities, as well as the peaceful coexistence between them.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Wednesday said statements and actions incompatible with the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia were “categorically unacceptable and illegitimate”, after Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, on Tuesday said “the idea of joining Russia is still popular in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and it can be implemented if there is a good reason for it”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said restoring the territorial integrity of the country was the “main national task” of the Government, in comments over the 31st anniversary of the 1992-1993 war in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday highlighted the Government’s “reasonable and peaceful policy” with regards to the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of the country and said the vision was “focused on restoring trust” between communities divided by conflicts in the territories, in his message for the 31st anniversary of the 1992-1993 war in the former.
Georgia’s policy focused on “peace, mutual respect and dialogue” will bring the country “closer to the day” when we continue to build a “united, strong, peaceful, democratic state” along with “Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Sunday in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Abkhazia War, which ended with the territory becoming a breakaway region of Georgia and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said the Georgian Government was “successfully implementing” the policy of non-recognition of the country’s Russian-occupied territories by foreign countries, and noted “no statement can prevent us from doing so”.
Gia Volski, the Georgian Parliament’s Vice Speaker, on Thursday said there was “no formal deal” between Russia and Georgia’s Russian-occupied north-western region of Abkhazia following claims by the de facto President of the region of a “new agreement” with Moscow about the deployment of a Russian naval base in the coastal city of Ochamchire.