Georgian Leadership's Revelations Must Be Transformed into Concrete Actions: Zakharova

Direct dialogue between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia could advance against the backdrop of recognizing the fact of aggression against Tskhinvali by Georgian authorities. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“Within the framework of the Geneva agreements, there is a possibility of expecting progress in negotiations in light of the public acknowledgment by Georgian authorities of the aggression carried out against South Ossetia by former President Mikheil Saakashvili last year, as well as statements about the need for reconciliation with Abkhazians and South Ossetians. It is important that these revelations by the Georgian leadership become decisive in building relationships with Sukhum and Tskhinvali and transform into concrete practical steps,” she wrote.

She added that one of the top priorities in the negotiation process remains the signing of a legally binding agreement by Georgia on the non-use of force against Abkhazia and South Ossetia. “This would not only be a reliable guarantee against the recurrence of the tragic events of August 2008 but also a starting point for the resolution of the Tbilisi-Sukhumi-Tskhinvali triangle. Moreover, the stabilization of the situation in the border areas of the three states will be facilitated by the beginning of the delimitation of the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetian borders, with subsequent demarcation,” Zakharova noted.