President Saakashvili told the climate conference in Cancun, Mexico that in “occupied region of Abkhazia the Black Sea coast has been experiencing abrasion due to the devastating practices of the occupying power and its proxy regime.”

“Their mining of inert materials from the Gumista River construction projects related to the Sochi Olympics has resulted in landslides and degradation of the microclimate,” he said while addressing the conference.

“Their illegal search for oil in the Black Sea, in the territorial waters of Georgia, is done in a total blackout, without any legitimate authority being able to check the impact on the environment,” Saakashvili continued. “This is extremely alarming. What is most unfortunate is that we are unable to halt these disturbing practices due to the ongoing occupation and the violation of all cease-fire agreements.”

He also told the conference, that the global warming was “a challenge for humankind”.

“Our overarching goal in Georgia is to show that lowering our consumption of fossil fuels can help us increase growth-and can do so in a sustainable way,” Saakashvili said.