Brussels, 26/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed this week's announcement by the president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, who said during a speech on 23 November at the European Parliament in Strasbourg that he was committed not to use force to recover South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are under Russian occupation (see EUROPE 10262). In a press release on 25 November, Catherine Ashton said she felt this commitment was a “constructive step and positive contribution to ongoing efforts towards a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict”. She also underlined the importance of the international talks in Geneva “where the issue of non-use of force is at the centre of the agenda”. The EU awaits with interest the next stages announced by President Saakashvili in his speech and, Ashton said, the EU “stands ready to continue the active engagement of the EU in the conflict resolution efforts in Georgia”. (H.B./transl.jl)