The European People`s Party (EPP) : recognition of occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia cannot be accepted by the world community

The European People`s Party (EPP) adopted a position paper on EU-Russia relations. The paper was approved by the EPP Foreign Ministers and then introduced to the Political Assembly.

“Russia must realize that there is no sphere of influence policy and that each
country is free to decide over its membership in an international organisation and
choose it security arrangement. The territorial integrity of every country has to be
guaranteed. In the case of Georgia, Russia has violated fundamental principles of
respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia should note that as its
recognition of occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia cannot be accepted by the
world community, there is a necessity for Russia to implement the August 12 and
September 8 2008 agreements and to start serious negotiations about withdrawal of
Russian troops from the Georgian territories”, the paper says.