Georgia, Tbilisi, May 13 /Trend N.Kirtzkhalia/
Georgia will consider the proposals of the Russians on the non-use of force together with its partners, Georgian deputy foreign minister Nino Kalandadze said during a briefing on Monday.
"The signing of an agreement on the non-use of force is the debt of both Georgia and Russia. Work on this issue has been on-going for a long time and the international community is involved in this process since the Georgian side officially made a bid on this occasion," Kalandadze said. She noted that appropriate steps should be taken by the Russian side.
"The formalisation of this issue of course, must be in the form of a specific document. I will not jump the gun. Let's see what proposals the Russians will a make and after that we will discuss them with partners. With regard to the occupied territories, they are considered as part of Georgia and we have an obligation not to use force," Kalandadze said.
During a visit to Abkhazia, co-chair of the Geneva talks Anti Turinen said Russia has proposed a document on the non-use of force. "There is evidence that the Georgian side is preparing its proposals in this regard. We have a definite signal that we will create a joint document," he said.
The Geneva talks were convened after the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008, in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement dated Aug.12.
Military action was launched in the Georgian region of South Ossetia on Aug.8, 2008. Later Russian troops occupied the city of Tskhinvali and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognised the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August.
In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced the two unrecognised republics as occupied territories.