40th round of Geneva International Discussions kicks off
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Yet another round of the Geneva International Discussions – the only international format of meetings addressing Georgia-Russia relations – began today, with security issues and the humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), on the top of the agenda.
The talks traditionally include negotiators from Georgia and Russia as well as representatives from occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), and co-chaired by United Nations (UN), Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and European Union (EU) officials.
A Georgian delegation is in Switzerland today, where the 40th round of the Geneva International Discussions are taking place.
The three issues that keep remaining on the top of agenda are:
- Non-use of power;
- International security in both of the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia;
- Return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes.
Moreover, the Georgian delegation will demand for the immediate detention of Rashid Kanjioghli, sentenced to 14 years imprisonment in absentia for murdering Georgian citizen Giga Otkhozoria near the occupation line last year.
Georgia will also raise the issue of continuous illegal detentions across the occupation line, and will demand the release of detainees. The restrictions that ordinary people are facing along the occupation line, on their own pieces of land, will also be among the talking points.
Since the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008, the Geneva International Discussions have been the only format of dialogue between Georgia and Russia. At the meeting, according to the August 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, issues including non-use of force, creation of international security arrangements in breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, and safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees are discussed.
The 40th round of the Geneva International Discussions will end tomorrow.
Security issues and humanitarian situation in Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were discussed at the Geneva International Discussions on March 28-29.
Representatives of the Government of Georgia have openly have condemned the recently ratified military deal between Russia and Georgia’s western de facto Abkhazia region at the 38th round of Geneva International Talks, which discuss Georgia’s conflict issues.
Officials from Georgia, Russia, de-facto authorities from Georgia’s two breakaway regions and international conflict resolution experts are meeting this week to discuss the tense situation near Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Tbilisi-Abkhazia agree to restore talks in Gali
The 35th round of Geneva International Discussions – the only international format of meetings addressing Georgia-Russia relations – has ended positively.
Dropping the charges against the murderer of a Georgian citizen strengthens the impunity syndrome in occupied Abkhazia, and encourages violence on ethnic grounds, say Georgian authorities.
The Charge d’Affaires of the United States Missions to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Harry Kamian summed up the recent Geneva International Discussions today.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze stated late on Thursday that Georgia is working together with its international partners within the Geneva International Discussions to adopt a non-use of force statement with the discussion participants.
Georgia and Russia were unable to agree on a non-use of force statement at the Geneva International Discussions that would oblige all the members of the Geneva talks not to use force against one another. "Russia showed a destructive attitude and deliberately brought the discussions on the statement to a dead end,” the Georgian ministry reported.