European External Action Service: European Union External Action

Brussels, 01 October 2013
131001/02
STATEMENT
by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the
placement of obstacles along administrative boundary lines in Georgia
The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement
today:
"The High Representative notes with profound concern the continued and increasing
activities by Russian security forces to erect fences and other obstacles along administrative
boundary lines in Georgia between the territory administered by the government in Tbilisi
and the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Such activities - which contravene Georgia's
territorial integrity - create significant hardship for residents on either side of the
administrative boundary lines and seriously challenge stability and security in these regions.
The High Representative calls on the Russian Federation to ensure that these barriers are
removed. She recalls the European Union's support for Georgia's territorial integrity within
its internationally recognised borders.
The EU's Political and Security Committee travelled to Georgia on 30 September 2013 and
paid a visit to the administrative boundary line of South Ossetia, and to the EU Monitoring
Mission."
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FOR FURTHER DETAILS:
Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 584 9780- [email protected] @EUHighRepSpox
Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 - +32 2 298 65 70 - [email protected] @AshtonSpox_Maja
Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98 - [email protected]
Eamonn Prendergast +32 460 75 32 93 – [email protected]
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