The EU French Presidency expressed its “profound concern” at the growing tensions in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, including bombings, armed incidents and violations of Georgian airspace.

It called on all the parties to avoid any acts that may contribute to aggravating tensions and to fully respect the relevant agreements and resolutions of the UN Security Council.

“The European Union calls on the parties to engage in dialogue in the existing structures for negotiation with a view to resolving the conflicts. It expresses its support for the ongoing efforts in the context of the Group of Friends of the SRSG on the Abkhazian conflict and that of the OSCE for South Ossetia. The European Union stands ready to support their implementation,” it said in the statement issued on July 11.

The EU French Presidency also called upon the parties to finalise without delay a commitment to the non-use of force and a return of refugees and displaced persons.

“The Presidency invites its troika partners to make demarches in Moscow and Tbilisi, on the basis of the foregoing, as soon as possible,” the statement reads.