According to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Tbilisi’s stance on signing a non-use of force agreement with self-proclaimed Sokhumi and Tskhinvali remains unchanged.
“We do not recognize the so-called states in any form. The so-called ‘Republic of Abkhazia’ and the so-called ‘Republic of South Ossetia’ cannot be recognized by us in any way. Consequently, no agreement can be concluded with them. And this is precisely the position that the special representative will voice,” Kobakhidze stated.
The head of government was responding to journalists’ questions regarding the mission of the newly appointed special representative for relations with Russia, in light of the Kremlin’s stance on the necessity of legally binding non-use of force commitments. Moscow, along with occupied Sokhumi and Tskhinvali, demands that Tbilisi sign such an agreement. For Georgia, however, such a document would imply recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as parties to the conflict.
Notably, on October 21, Irakli Kobakhidze introduced the prime minister’s new special representative for relations with Russia. The post, which had remained vacant for nearly a year, will be filled by First Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Zurabashvili. At the same time, Kobakhidze emphasized that appointing the special envoy does not signal the start of a “new phase” in relations with the Russian Federation.
