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Georgia’s arming at variance with settlement appeals - Abkhazi

NATO, which makes appeals for a peaceful settlement of conflicts, is a key organization that directly supports the continuing intensive militarization of Georgia

SUKHUM, November 15 (Itar-Tass) — Georgia’s arming with support of NATO in conditions of unsettled conflicts with Abkhazia and South Ossetia is at variance with appeals of the Alliance for a peaceful settlement of conflicts, the Foreign Ministry of Abkhazia said in a statement of Tuesday.

“Statements by high-ranking NATO officials as to commitments to a peaceful settlement of conflicts do not look convincing,” said a commentary on a statement of the NATO-Georgia commission.

NATO, which makes appeals for a peaceful settlement of conflicts, is a key organization that directly supports the continuing intensive militarization of Georgia, it stressed.

“In conditions of unsettled conflicts with Abkhazia and Georgia it becomes obvious that the armament, re-equipment and training of the Georgian army with support of NATO is by no means aimed at the settlement of conflicts peacefully,” the Foreign Ministry stressed.

“Georgia’s aggression against South Ossetia in August 2008 and analogous plans against Abkhazia, stopped owing to a timely interference of the Russian Federation” is a clear example of that, it said.

NATO’s appeals to Russia to “give up the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are independent states, and whose sovereign status is recognized by the Russian Federation and five more U.N. member countries” are “absolutely inadequate,” it continued.

According to the Abkhazian Foreign Ministry “such a step demonstrates bias approaches of that organization and an absolute unwillingness to regard the existing in the region political realities”.

NATO ambassadors led by Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Tbilisi on November 9-10. On the results of the visit the ambassadors made a statement, in which they once again confirmed their commitment to the so-called “territorial integrity” of Georgia and once again urged Russia to give up the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The statement also contained an appeal to look for peaceful ways to settle the conflicts.