NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that the Alliance does “not recognise the so-called treaty on alliance and strategic partnership”, which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abkhaz leader Raul Khajimba in Sochi on November 24.

“This so-called treaty does not contribute to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the situation in Georgia. On the contrary, it violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and blatantly contradicts the principles of international law, OSCE principles and Russia’s international commitments,” Stoltenberg said.

“NATO fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.” 

“We continue to call on Russia to reverse its recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of Georgia as independent states and to withdraw its forces from Georgia,” the NATO Secretary General said.