The FINANCIAL — On 19 March 2015, Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister, Head of the Georgian Delegation to the Geneva International Discussions David Dondua addressed the OSCE Permanent Council regarding the signature of the so-called “treaty on alliance and integration” between Moscow and the Russian occupation regime of Tskhinvali.
In his address, David Dondua particularly emphasised that this action represents a factual annexation of Georgia’s integral part – Tskhinvali region by the Russian Federation, MFA Georgia said.
As the First Deputy Minister stated, the so-called “treaties” signed between Moscow and the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali have no legal standing, however, through these actions the Russian Federation promotes the destabilisation of the situation both in Georgia’s occupied territories and in the region as a whole and threatens the entire European security.
David Dondua informed the participants of the OSCE Permanent Council on the current difficult situation in Georgia’s occupied regions in terms of security and large scale human rights violations. It was underlined that the installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial obstacles along the occupation line has divided the local population in two parts and hampers the free movement.
The Georgian First Deputy Minister also focused on the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and assessed the last 31st round. He underlined that the signature of the so-called “treaty” by Russia on the day of the Geneva talks represented another provocative step to disrupt the 31st round of the Discussions.
The Georgian diplomat called upon the international community to condemn Russia’s illegal actions and to respond Russia’s aggression with consolidated support. Herewith, the First Deputy Minister called upon the Russian Federation to fulfil its obligations under the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and to comply its activities with the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.
At the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, Georgia’s supportive statements were made by the permanent representatives of the European Union (Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Turkey, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine joined the EU statement), the U.S., Canada, Norway, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine and Switzerland, who strongly condemned the signature of the so-called “treaties” with the occupied regions of Georgia and called upon Russia to observe the principles of international law, fulfil obligations under the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and respect Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The speakers once again expressed their concern over the illegal field exercises by the Russian Federation in Georgia’s occupied territories – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, expressed their support for the Geneva International Discussions and called upon the Russian Federation to comply with its international commitments.
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