US Department of State condemns Russia-Abkhazia military deal
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, November 28
The United States Department of State says they “strongly oppose” the ratification of a military deal between Russia and Georgia’s western de facto Abkhazia region, on the creation of joint military units.
“We do not recognize the legitimacy of this so-called ‘treaty’, which does not constitute a valid international agreement,” US Department of State Spokesperson John Kirby stated at last week’s press conference.
He stressed that the US position on Georgia’s two de facto regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) “remains clear”.
“These regions are integral parts of Georgia, and we continue to support Georgia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” Kirby said.
The Spokesperson said Russia should fulfil all of its commitments under the 2008 ceasefire agreement, withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions, reverse its recognition of the de facto regions as independent states, and provide free access for humanitarian assistance to these regions.
James Appathurai, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, also responded to the issue.
Appathurai wrote on his Facebook that the agreement was illegal.
“This so-called ‘treaty’ doesn’t constitute a valid international agreement,” Appathurai said.
He stressed that NATO’s position to Georgia remained the same, and that the two occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were integral parts of Georgia.
“And [NATO] allies continue to support Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Appathurai added.
The illegal deal between Russia and Abkhazia envisioned the creation of joint military units; the main task of the combined military force was to prepare an "adequate reaction to an armed attack”.
For its part, Russia claims it only seeking to help Abkhazia and Tskhinvali defend themselves “from the aggression they are facing from Georgia”, and accuse the current Georgian Government of “irrelevant rhetoric” that will not help the normalisation of relations between Russia and Georgia.
