Georgian FM on Sarkozy Calls to Renew EU-Russia Talks

Georgian Foreign Minster, Eka Tkeshelashvili, said she did “not really understand yesterday some of the statements made in Brussels by President Sarkozy, saying that the ceasefire agreement is implemented by Russia, so that there is no problem in renewing negotiations” on EU-Russia partnership treaty.

“We can frankly say that it [ceasefire accord] is not implemented,” AFP reported quoting Tkeshelashvili as saying to journalists in Paris on November 9.

"I do believe myself that perhaps it is not the right moment to do that [resume EU-Russia partnership talks], right now Russia is in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," she said.

"By the way, the decision of the European Council of September 1 clearly says that talks will not be renewed until Russia withdraws to the lines of August 7 in terms of military presence," she said. "If this is not happening and we still have thousands of Russian troops based in our country – and Akhalgori by the way is about 40 kilometres (25 milies) from the capital – how can we speak about sustainable peace and stability?"

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