BERLIN
The strategic alliance agreement between Russia and Abkhazia has made the Russia-Georgia talks in Geneva more difficult, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Wednesday.
Holding a press conference in the Federal Press Center in Berlin, Seibert reacted to the strategic alliance agreement between Russia and Abkhazia.
Russia and the self-proclaimed independent area in Georgia signed a strategic alliance agreement on Monday Nov. 24, which includes a controversial collective defense pact.
"Germany supports Georgia's territorial integrity," Seibert said. He added that Germany also supports Georgia's effort to re-integrate the Abkhazia region into Georgia.
Seibert also said that the strategic alliance agreement increased anxieties that the Abkhazia region will be annexed by Russia.
Abkhazia declared its independence from Georgia in 1999, a move Russia formally recognizing in 2008 following a six-day Russian-Georgian war over the South Ossetia, another breakaway region of Georgia.
For now, the majority of UN countries consider Abkhazia to be part of Georgia’s territory.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
