Tbilisi: Lavrov’s Visit to Occupied Abkhazia is Continuation of Moscow’s Provocative Policy
TBILISI – Official Tbilisi says that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s “visit” to the occupied Abkhazia region of Georgia on 18-19 April 2017 represents a continuation of Moscow’s provocative policy against the Georgian state, which aims at legitimizing the forceful change of borders of the sovereign state through ethnic cleansing and military occupation.
“With this kind of illegal acts the Russian Federation attempts in vain to legitimize the occupation regimes,” Georgia’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) stated.
The ministry says that in parallel to the meetings with representatives of the occupation regime, he will participate in the opening ceremony of new building of the so-called Russian embassy in the occupied region.
“This “visit” in violation of the Georgian state border and opening of new building of the illegal diplomatic representation of the Russian Federation on the ground blatantly violates the principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state within its internationally recognized borders and other fundamental norms of international law,” the statement of Georgian MFA reads.
Moreover, Georgia calls upon the Russian Federation to cease the practice of provocative actions, respect the territorial integrity of the sovereign state and implement its international obligations including the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.
Russian news agency Tass reports that Sergei Lavrov will spend two days in Abkhazia and on Wednesday, April 19, he will have talks with President Raul Khadzhimba, national parliament speaker Valery Kvarchiya and Foreign Minister Daur Kove.
“The two countries are persistently developing their relationship on the basis of allied strategic partnership,” Tass reports.
The Republic of Abkhazia is a self-proclaimed state which is only recognized by four countries: Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The other states say that breakaway Abkhazia, as well as the second occupied region South Ossetia, are integral part of Georgia.
By The Morrison
Photo source: trend.az