The EU Special Representative for South Caucasus and Georgia Crisis Issues, Herbert Salber, yesterday met the so-called president of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov and congratulated him on the new “post.”
His statement caused quite a misunderstanding in Georgian and with EU representatives. The EU Ambassador to Georgia, Janos Herman, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the statement. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Dondua, met Janos Herman.
What was heard from the EU Special Representative and the Geneva co-chairman was incomprehensible David Dondua said yesterday about the EU Special Representative for South Caucasus and Georgia’s Crisis Issues, who congratulated the President-elect of the annexed region of Georgia – Anatoly Bibilov.
“When the so-called elections and referendum was held in the Tskhinvali region, the EU was one of the first which condemned this provocative action on the territory of the Georgian Federation. So the position of the European Union in this regard has not changed and as I’ve mentioned, it supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and the conflict resolution in compliance with the principles of international law. What we have heard from the EU Special Representative and the Geneva co-chairman is, to say mildly, incomprehensible and unacceptable. 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. We are in touch with the EU leadership and we hope that this will be properly responded by Brussels, “Dondua said.
Government representatives of Georgia also commented on the fact: “I think he thought that with his congratulations he could somehow solve some problems in our relationship and facilitate the process of development of the process, however, it is a deep error,” said the Vice Speak or Parliament, Gia Volsky.
After the meeting with David Dundua, Janos Herman, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, held a press conference regarding the meeting and the provacative congratulations made by the EU Special Representative for South Caucasus and Georgia Crisis Issues, Herbert Salber.
“I want to, once again, note that the European Union does not recognize so-called South Ossetia. What we recognize and support is the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia. We talked to Mr. Deputy Minister about cooperation in this field,” said Herman.
