During its 1211th meeting held on the 12th of November 2014, the Committee of Ministers Deputies of the Council of Europe discussed the 10th Consolidated Report on the Conflict in Georgia, which was prepared by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland. The report covers the period between April and September 2014.
It is important that the Council of Europe continues to monitor the commitments undertaken by the Russian Federation and Georgia following the 2008 war, and that it keeps informing the international community of ongoing developments in Georgia's occupied regions. Among other issues, the Secretary General paid particular attention to the proposed draft treaty between the Russian Federation and the region of Abkhazia "on partnership and integration". The Georgian delegation, as well as the delegations of the EU and the Council of Europe member states expressed their concern about this issue. The Secretary General's 10th Consolidated Report was welcomed by the Council of Europe's member states, which supported the practice of submitting the Secretary General's consolidated reports in future. Only the representatives of the Russian Federation called into question the effectiveness of the Secretary General's consolidated reports.
The Georgian delegation made a statement during the meeting, which focused upon the current situation in Georgia's occupied territories. The delegation expressed concern about the illegal activities undertaken by Russian servicemen along the occupation line, as well as about the initiative announced by the Russian Federation regarding the signing of the so called draft "treaty on alliance and integration" with the Sokhumi occupation regime and other relevant questions. The Georgian delegation called upon the Council of Europe's member states to take a proactive stance to prevent further illegal acts by the Russian Federation directed against Georgia's territorial integrity and its sovereignty.
A statement on behalf of the European Union was also made during the meeting, in which the EU member states reiterated their unequivocal support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders. The EU then urged the Russian Federation to fulfill its international commitments and obligations, including the six-point ceasefire agreement of the 12th of August 2008; to grant the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) access to Georgia's occupied regions; to commit itself to the non-use of force vis-à-vis Georgia; and to play a constructive role in the Geneva International Discussions. The EU went on to express its profound concern at the Russian Federation's proposal on a so-called "Draft Treaty on Alliance and Integration" with the breakaway region of Abkhazia in Georgia; noted with concern the human rights situation in Georgia's Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions and the process of "borderization" along the occupation line; and underlined the importance of the right of refugees and internally displaced persons to a safe and dignified return. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine aligned themselves with this statement.
A statement on behalf of the GUAM member states was also made, in which they expressed their support both for the practice of the Council of Europe Secretary General presenting future reports on the conflict in Georgia as well as for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry welcomes the publication of the Council of Europe Secretary General's 10th consolidated report as well as the statements made by the EU, GUAM and other partners concerning the report. The Ministry hopes that the issue of the "Conflict in Georgia" will remain on high on the Council of Europe's political agenda.