The uncooperative actions of Russian representatives and envoys from Georgia’s breakaway regions during the latest Geneva Discussions was on the agenda for today’s meeting between Georgia and representatives of the important talks.
Co-chairs of the Geneva Discussions are in Georgia and have discussed the "destructive activities” of a select group of people that led to the 28th round of international Geneva Discussions being uncomfortable for those in attendance.
The latest talks ended abruptly when delegates from Georgia’s two breakaway regions walked out of discussions about humanitarian affairs on June 18.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia representatives, backed by a Russian negotiator, left the talks after demanding the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees be removed from the Geneva Talks agenda, saying the issue had been "politicised” by Tbilisi.
Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who attended the talks from Georgian side, believed the "destructive activities” were totally unacceptable.
"With co-chairs of the discussions [we] outlined possible steps that may be taken to avoid recurrence of similar developments in the future and to ensure that further rounds are held in their due format,” David Zalkaliani said.
The Georgian side emphasized Russia’s attempt to thwart the talks should not be allowed and important topics relating to Georgia’s breakaway regions and IDPs, were valuable parts of the discussion and should be included.
Zalkaliani said the occupation regimes of such key issues should be on the agenda, which included non-use of force, security on the ground, international security mechanisms and return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
The Georgian delegation said the Geneva Discussion co-chairs should take "necessary steps” to ensure all issues on the agenda were discussed in the talks, which were the accepted format, and to avoid any revising of this format.
Discussions focusing on issues included in the agenda of the 29th round of Geneva talks are due to take place on October 7 and 8.