Scandal: EU Representative Congratulates Tskhinvali ‘Leader’ on Winning Elections

Official Tbilisi has expressed concern over the Tuesday’s incident in de facto South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) when the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, and the co-Chair of Geneva International Talks, Herbert Salber congratulated the so called president Anatoly Bibilov on winning the ‘presidential elections’ held in April.

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry stated this step was “incomprehensible and unacceptable” and it contradicts the principles of international law and does not support the efforts of Georgia and the international community aimed at for peaceful resolution of the conflict. 

Moreover, the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Georgia, Janos Herman and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Davit Dondua held a meeting in the Foreign Ministry over the issue.

After the meeting, Herman said that Herbert Salber would make explanations himself.

He added that the EU does not recognize so called presidential elections held in Georgia’s breakaway South Ossetia and also recognizes and support Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“We spoke with the Deputy Minister about cooperation in this field and I would like to reiterate with clarity that the European Union does not recognize the framework in which the so-called elections were held in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia””, said the Ambassador.

Davit Dondua said that EU was one of the first, who condemned the so called elections in Tskhinvali.

“We are in touch with the EU leadership and we hope that this will be properly responded by Brussels,” he stressed.

Sopo Katsarava, Chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Relations of Georgia says that Salber’s statement contradicts not only Georgia’s sovereignty but the EU politics as well.

Herbert Salber and the other co-chairs of Geneva International talks arrived in Georgia’s Russian-backed South Ossetia region on May 16 to discuss the details of the next round of Geneva Talks, scheduled for June 20-21, 2017.

Photo: European Union Special Representative Herbert Salber in Tskhinvali

Source: cominf.org

By  Thea Morrison