Statement
Ministry for Foreign Affairs 17 April 2008
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Disquieting news from Moscow about Georgia
"Yesterday's news that Moscow will be taking a number of measures to establish closer ties with the Georgian areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is deeply disquieting.
Georgia's territorial integrity contributes to the stability of the wider Caucasus region, where not least Russia should have a very great interest in stability in particular. It is firmly supported, not least by the European Union.
If measures are now taken that create the impression that this territorial integrity is in fact being violated - and with the aim of actually integrating these areas with Russia - it may have serious consequences. A political conflict in the immediate neighbourhood of the future winter Olympics is not in anyone's interest - least of all Russia's.
Moreover, this comes after Georgia presented far-reaching new proposals on how the conflict over Abkhazia could be settled.
In my opinion these proposals could form an important basis for political talks on the question - but these would, if anything, be undermined by measures of the kind Moscow now seems to be considering," comments Carl Bildt.
Background
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin had instructed the Russian government to establish official links in a number of areas between Russia and the breakaway administrations of the Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to the Russian plans direct government cooperation is to be initiated in such areas as trade, culture, education and consular support.
Contact
Anna Charlotta Johansson(journalists only) Press Secretary to Carl Bildt
+46 8 405 54 73
+46 70 356 30 32
email to Anna Charlotta Johansson
