German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that Georgia`s territorial integrity is not a matter that is open for discussion.
"We discussed the situation in the Caucasus - differences on the issue have not been settled completely so far," Merkel told a news conference after talking with the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the Russian-German business forum in St. Petersburg, RIA Novosti reported.
She went on to add that Georgia`s territorial integrity was not up for discussion. Merkel said the international talks in Geneva on October 15 would help resolve the issue.
Among the topics for discussion during the Russian-German business forum is the return of refugees to the region and security in the Caucasus.
Meanwhile, Merkel went on to add that Georgia and Ukraine, had the right to join NATO but maintained that their bids for action plans that would put them on the membership route were not very likely to be approved at a conference of NATO defense ministers scheduled for December.
Elsewhere a deal was struck on Thursday between Germany`s E.ON AG and Gazprom. A deal was signed with the Russian energy giant Gazprom to take a 25 percent minus one share in West Siberia`s Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field with Gazprom getting 49 percent in ZAO Gerosgaz in return.
SM/HAR - PRESSTV