Urmas Paet: “The Occupation of Georgian Territory Is Unacceptable for International Law”

On September 8th, the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet visited the village Odzisi bordering with Akhalgori. Paet was introduced to the current situation of the territory by the EU observers.

Estonian Foreign Minister was given information about Georgian and Russian block posts and the location of Russian border-guards; he was informed that currently the majority of the region population is internally displaced and only 1000 people live in the area. According to the observer’s information, approximately 300 people cross the administrative border daily on an average.

Urmas Paet was also acquainted with the rules of border crossing and the conditions for obtaining the right of border crossing. Besides, according to the information of EU observers, Akhalgori is currently experiencing an economic collapse – the region is not provided the gas, there’s only a small hospital and a clinic for the initial medical aid; only 7 students go to Akhalgori schools; the IDPs from Akhalgori don’t have chance to go back to the occupied territories.

The head of Akhalgori region police department Temur Burduli visited the village Odzisi and informed the Estonian Foreign Minister that there are not many incidents occurring in this territory.

The village Odzisi of Dusheti region is the last Georgian village bordering with Akhalgori. In a kilometer from here, the village Akhmaji of the Akhalgori region starts.

“The occupation of Georgian territory by Russian militaries is unacceptable by international law,” – stated the Estonian Foreign Ministry while visiting Odzisi.

“I got acquainted with the situation at the territory that is totally unacceptable for the international law, because the process of occupation of the part of Georgian territory still goes on and Georgia is divided. We have to achieve the improvement of the situation”, noted Urmas Paet.

According to his statement, he’s glad that EU observing commission operates near the occupied territories.

“This is the only international mission working at this territory. It is very important for reduction of accidents. Entire international concord has to continue working to change the situation. International organizations shall not acknowledge the changes Russia made there”, reported Urmas Paet.