Today, the web-site of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, through its agreement with EU Ambassadors, issued a following statement: "The EU Delegation welcomes that from 1 January 2014 the office of State Minister Paata Zakareishvili will become the Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality". Hereby, it encourages the Georgian government as a whole to continue steps towards pragmatic engagement with Abkhazians and South Ossetians.

The statement notes the opinion of the Venice Commission, which welcomed recent amendments to the "Law on the Occupied Territories", but it also suggests "further potential improvements to the law. The EU Delegation urges the Georgian government to consider these recommendations".

The Delegation of the European Union reiterates that EU Ambassadors will continue their efforts to engage with the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It recognizes that direct contact between those affected by the conflict can make an important contribution to reconciliation.

The EU Delegation acknowledges the efforts of the Office of the State Minister and all those working towards peace and reconciliation, their pragmatism and commitment and on all sides, and wishes them courage and vigour.

The full text of the statement is available on the link bellow:

The full text in Georgian

The full text in English