Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the EU on Russian plans to build up its military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Declaration on behalf of the European Union
REV2 - The European Union is seriously concerned about the plans announced by the Russian Federation to build up its military presence in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia without the consent of the Government of Georgia. Among other things, this applies to Russian plans to construct a naval installation on the coast of Abkhazia.
The EU would consider the implementation of such plans to be a serious violation of the principle of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to which the EU is strongly committed. Any military build-up in Abkhazia and South Ossetia would be in contradiction with the spirit of the August and September 2008 ceasefire agreements and jeopardise stability and security in the region by further increasing tensions.
The EU expects Russia to act in a responsible manner and to continue to implement all its commitments. The EU also calls on Russia to use all relevant international fora, in particular the talks in Geneva, to discuss security matters.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and Azerbaijan align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Attached Files
Last update: 11.2.2009 13:38
