Sixteen years after Russia’s aggression against Georgia, France reaffirms its commitment to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, stated the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

“France emphasizes that the unilateral recognition of the self-proclaimed authorities of the occupied separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the militarization of these regions, and the obstacles to relations between these regions and the rest of Georgia constitute unacceptable violations of international law.

France calls on Russia to fully implement the commitments made on August 12 and September 8, 2008. France also reaffirms its support for the Geneva International Discussions (GID) platform co-chaired by the European Union, the OSCE, and the United Nations. Only this framework for discussion will enable the parties to work towards a common solution.

Together with its European partners, France will continue to support the work of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, as well as the European path and the sovereignty of Georgia,” the statement notes.