Georgia not to compromise on breakaway regions
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
The Georgian government will not sit back an inch from its position on issues related to occupied territories, said Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on December 26.
Addressing journalists, Garibashvili said the so-called "Alliance and Integration" treaty signed between Russia and Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia and other similar document to be signed with Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region will have negative effect on Georgia-Russia relations.
"The so-called treaty has fostered further annexation of Georgia’s territories by Russia and this will negatively affect the region and Georgia-Russia relations," he noted.
Despite Georgia's constructive policy towards Russia, signing of the so-called deal with Abkhazia was an inadequate step by Russian authorities, Garibashvili said. "Within two years, we have done our best to normalize relations with Russia. But we are not going to make any compromises in regard to the breakaway zones."
Garibashvili also added that the Georgian government is ready to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin however such meetings need to be planned thoroughly.
"We believe that meeting for meeting is useless. It is too early to speak about the time and format of the meetings. We are ready but still need to prepare well for fruitful results," Garibashvili said.
Garibashvili once again congratulated Georgia on the ratification of the Association Agreement (AA) with European Union (EU).
He emphasized that ratification of the landmark deal was a huge success for Georgians. "The agreement is a historical deal which deepens our relations with Europe. It is also our government’s action plan on how to get closer to the EU," Garibashvili noted.
Garibashvili said the issue on Georgia’s visa-free regime with the EU would also be discussed at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga in May next year.
Georgia’s AA with the EU was approved in Strasbourg, on December 18. Members of the European Parliament backed the AA by 490 votes to 76 and 57 abstentions.