Foreign Minister Brende deplores ‘agreement’ between Russia and Abkhazia

‘I regret the so-called agreement on alliance and strategic partnership entered into between Russia and the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia. Norway will maintain its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

On 24 November, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leader of Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba, signed an agreement on closer integration of the Georgian breakaway region into Russian military and civilian structures. 

‘The agreement is in breach of principles of international law. It violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and it will make it even harder to resolve the conflict over Georgia’s breakaway regions. Norway has again urged Russia to comply with the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008, and the supplementary provisions agreed on 8 September 2008. Russia must renounce its recognition of the Georgian breakaway regions as independent states and withdraw its military forces from Georgia,’ said Mr Brende.