On Monday, 24 November, the Baltic Assembly adopted a Statement calling on Russia to discontinue its provocative actions against Georgia, to withdraw the so-called Treaty on Alliance and Integration, and to fulfil its obligations under the ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008 and its subsequent implementation as of 8 September 2008.

The Baltic Assembly urges Russia to participate constructively in Geneva International Discussions and to ensure free access of the EUMM to the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

The Baltic Assembly expresses its deep concern over the Russia-elaborated and imposed so-called Treaty on Alliance and Integration with the Georgian region of Abkhazia. The Statement declares that the Baltic parliamentarians fully support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

The Baltic Assembly also underlines that such measures violate the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia and contradict the principles of international law, OSCE principles and Russia’s international commitments made in 2008. Actions by Russia will entail imminent implications on the security and stability not only locally but also in a wider region, and they will hinder the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

The Baltic Assembly is an interparliamentary cooperation organisation of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania established on 8 November 1991. Each national parliament of the Baltic States is represented in the Baltic Assembly by 12 to 20 members of parliament. It is a coordinating and consultative organisation which has a right to express its opinion to the national parliaments and governments of the Baltic States, as well as the Baltic Council of Ministers, in the form of resolutions, decisions, declarations and recommendations; it also has a right to request the above-mentioned bodies to provide information on cross-border issues that are high on the Baltic Assembly’s agenda.

Saeima Press Service