Tbilisi, Georgia, Jan. 22
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgia will never reconcile the loss of its territories, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said at an interview with the Rustavi 2 TV company.
She was commenting on the Ossetian press information in connection with co-chairman of the Geneva talks from the EU side Philippe Lefort's statement.
Pandzhikidze is unaware of Lefort's statement and does not know whether it is true.
"I have a meeting with Lefort on Wednesday at 12:00," she said. "He will arrive in Georgia to say goodbye as a special representative at the Geneva talks and as the EU Special Representative. Tomorrow I will ask him a question as to whether the Ossetian press information is true."
Lefort met with the President of the so-called South Ossetia, Leonid Tibilov on January 20, according to Ossetian radio and television. Lefort said during the meeting that the status of South Ossetia as an independent country was determined by the people of the republic long ago and it is impossible to change this position.
Lefort arrived in the Tskhinvali region as a co-chairman of the Geneva discussions. He stressed that this is the reality with which we must learn to live and work.
Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008. Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.
Translated by NH
Edited by SM