Georgian and German FM’s Meet in Berlin
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani met top German officials, as well as his counterpart at the Berlin Policy Forum. Today he will be arriving in France where Georgia will take over the chairmanship of the Committee of Minister of the Council of Europe (CoE) between November 27, 2019, and May 15, 2020.
The Georgian FM Davit Zalkaliani called on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation over the illegal detention of Dr.Vazha Gaprindashvili.
Speaking at the Berlin Policy Forum, Zalkaliani highlighted the ongoing problem of occupation and annexation of the country, noting that the situation must be more clearly assessed - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
“I would like to emphasize a very important issue - the creeping annexation and occupation is still going on in Georgia. So I think you need to evaluate the situation more clearly. As we speak now, Georgia is undergoing an illegal borderization process. A few weeks ago, a well-known Georgian doctor was kidnapped and arrested on the occupied territory for the simple reason that he was going to the occupied region to treat his patient. He is now in custody and we ask the international community to step up pressure on the Russian forces operating in those areas.
Unfortunately, ethnic Georgians who have returned to their permanent homes are in trouble, families are divided, they have no access to their own agriculture and cannot cultivate their own land, they are refused an education in their native language. We should not turn a blind eye to this illegal activity, as it will send a wrong signal to the Georgian society, our people," Davit Zalkaliani said in his speech.
The German FM Mr. Heiko Maas also observed the Georgian problem at the Forum and spoke about how Germany stands with Georgia, on these distressing issues.
“We are watching closely ongoing processes in Georgia and expect the sides start a dialogue to resolve the problem. If we can contribute to this process, we will be happy to do so,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas commented at a conference held together with his Georgian counterpart Davit Zalkaliani.
As for Georgia’s independence and its territorial integrity, Maas added that Germany stands firmly beside Georgia.
“Georgia’s sovereignty is not a matter of trade for us. Georgians have been travelling to Germany for two years without a visa. For Georgians living in their own country, the so-called administrative line is blocked and people’s freedom of movement is severely restricted in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Many of them are violently detained and this has to end,” Haiko Maas stressed.
He also spoke about Georgia’s relations with Germany and noted that German relations with Georgia are very close and trustworthy.
By Beka Alexishvili