Georgia appeals to Russia for use of nonviolence

Georgia appealed to the Russian government to sign the document about use of nonviolence over Georgian territory, during the Geneva discussion on December17-18.

The Georgian delegation, which is led by the Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, will evaluate the political and social environment across the occupation line and on Georgian occupied territories until the end of the day. According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, one of the most important topics is human rights in occupied territories.

"We have a lot important issues to discuss on our agenda. However, the major issues are human rights and use of nonviolence over Georgian territory. Georgia has this responsibility unilaterally, and we are hoping that the Russian Federation will do the same. said Davit Zalkaliani.

The Georgian side also discussed the situation in the Gali municipality (Abkhazia) and passports issued in Abkhazia. According to the Head of Abkhazian government, Vakhtang Kolbaia, more than 2400 passports are issued illegally in the Abkhazian territory.

Talks were launched after the August 2008 war, known as the Geneva International Discussions. They are co-chaired by representatives from EU, UN, and OSCE which involved negotiators from Georgia, Russia and the United States, as well as from breakaway areas of Georgia, - Sokhumi and Tskhinvali.

The Russian militants continued barbed wire fence installation process in Georgian territory on December 18, after the two-month break.

These obstacles are preventing local residents from cultivating their lands at the rural outskirts. Plavi village residents are unable to move north of the village where the cemetery is located. The Russian Army has installed barbed wire and blocked the way to the cemetery and Georgian Church.