Deputy FM: no results at Geneva Int’l Discussions, as Russia remains ‘destructive’

Due to the Russian Federation’s “destructive attitude” the 47th round of Geneva International Discussions of April 2-3, have again ended without tangible results, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia said after the two-day meetings.

Darsalia, who spoke on behalf of the central Government of Georgian at the discussions, said Russia prefers the language of pressure and threats.

He also stressed that Russia “politicises” all the issues, including humanitarian ones and thus hinders making the lives of people living in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) easier.

The Georgian delegation raised the issue of activating the relevant international security mechanisms to ensure that [Russia] fulfills the six-point ceasefire agreement”, Darsalia said.

Unfortunately, on the tenth anniversary [of the Russia-Georgia war] Russia still does not fulfil its obligations”, he added.

The Georgian official also underscored that the Russian representative expressed discontent with the joint NATO-Georgia military drills as well, which Darsalia noted is “not directed against any third parties”.

He said with pressure and threats Russia cannot make the Government of Georgia change its foreign policy priorities.

The Russian position

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin believes that with“the increased NATO military activities" Georgia will become "a springboard for tensions in the Caucasus”.

We, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as Georgia’s neighbours, should make sure that this is not addressed against us”, Karasin said, suggesting launching Russia-NATO and Russia-Georgia dialogue.

He said Moscow is concerned with NATO "approaching the borders of the Russian Federation and its allies: Abkhazia and South Ossetia" and will "take relevant measures if necessary”. 

The recent death of Georgian citizen Irakli Kvaratskhelia in the Russian occupied Abkhazia was also raised in Geneva. However, Karasin believes there can be no discussion over this issue until the investigation of the man’s death comes to an end.

If we discuss only such tragic cases at the Geneva [International] Discussions, we can not make steps forward”, Karasin said.

He also stated that adoption of Otkhozoria-Tatunashvili list hinders “the dialogite and cooperation between Tbilisi, Tskhinvali and Sokhumi” and that it “will not work in the Caucasus [region] but rather bring negative results”.

• The Geneva International Discussions were launched in October, 2008 to address the consequences of the Russia-Georgia war.
• The participants of the Geneva International Discussions are the central government of Georgia, the de-facto representatives of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, Russia, the US, the UN, the OSCE and the EU.
• The next round of the Geneva Discussions will be held in July, 2019.