Tbilisi, Georgia, Oct. 17
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
Georgia's Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said she sees a direct threat to Georgia in the agreement to be signed by Russia and Georgia's separatist region of Abkhazia.
Panjikidze wants to raise this issue at a meeting of 28 countries' FMs in Luxembourg on Oct. 20.
"The agreement, in case of signing, means an outright annexation of Georgia by Russia," Panjikidze said. "So, we are working in many ways for the international response to be adequate in this."
She said that before the meeting between the Georgian PM's Special Envoy Zurab Abashidze and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, there was a discussion about whether there should be held another round of talks or not.
"As is known, the opinions dispersed," Panjikidze added. "I agree with those who believe that this meeting had to be held. It is always possible to reject any format or protest against it."
"In any case, no one can accuse us that we did not try to get information about the agreement from the original source," the foreign minister added.
Russia doesn't want to abandon the agreement with the separatist region of Abkhazia on integration and alliance, which provides for the creation of joint armed forces, Karasin told reporters Oct. 16 in Prague following his meeting with Abashidze.
Karasin said the agreement is also misunderstood in Abkhazia, where a part of the political elite believes that such a document infringes Abkhazia's sovereignty.
According to the media reports the draft agreement between Russia and Abkhazia on the alliance and integration, developed by the Russian side, was sent to the so-called parliament of Abkhazia on Oct. 13.
Under the draft agreement "the main areas of cooperation, integration and partnership are: introduction of a coordinated foreign policy, formation of a common defense and security area, creation of a unified social and economic space, and preservation of the common cultural and humanitarian space."
Large scale military action was launched between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia on August 8, 2008.
Later, Russian troops occupied Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military.
Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August.
In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.