Geneva Talks: Georgia highlights Russia’s ‘illegal treaties’ with breakaway regions
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A Georgian delegation led by First Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua has departed for Switzerland where the 31st round of the Geneva International Discussions convene on March 17 and 18.
At this round of talks, Georgia would highlight the issue of Russia signing illegal agreements with Georgia’s breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), said Georgia’s Foreign Ministry today.
The Geneva International Discussions, commonly known as the Geneva Talks, is the only platform between Georgia and Russia mediated by international organisations.
- The talks were established after the August 2008 war in order to address the consequences of the Russia-Georgia clash. The meeting is co-chaired by representatives from the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), while negotiators from Georgia, Russia and the United States, as well as from Georgia’s breakaway regions Sukhumi and Tskhinvali are also involved.
- One of the outcomes of the talks was the establishment of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRMs), which was tasked to react to all illegal activities along the administrative boundary lines between Georgia and its Russian-occupied regions.
At this round of Discussions, the Georgian side planned to raise the issue of Russia signing illegal agreements with Georgia’s breakaway regions Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Russia signed an ‘Alliance and Strategic Partnership’ treaty with Abkhazia on November 24, 2014 and was set to sign the same kind of document with Tskhinvali region tomorrow, on Wednesday March 18.
Tbilisi believed these moves of Russia were an "annexation attempt” and Georgia urged the global community to force Russia to respect international law.
Meanwhile, Georgia sent another working group, led by Deputy Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, to Geneva. This group will work on humanitarian issues.
The main topic of discussion for this group will be Georgia’s internally displaced persons’ (IDP) returning home, human rights’ violation facts in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions, instances of illegal detention and the lack of opportunity to get an education in native language in Georgia’s breakaway regions.
The same group could also bring up issues regarding cultural heritage too, said Georgia’s Foreign Ministry.
Georgia is blaming Russia for its "deliberate affront” to the international community and the peace process.
Non-use of force, using international security measures and ensuring Georgia's internally displaced people (IDPs) can return to their homes will be the main issues discussed at the next round of Geneva negotiations on October 7 and 8.
The Russian President’s aide Vladislav Surkov in charge of overseeing Moscow’s relations with Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) believes the planned treaty between Moscow and Tskhinvali will be signed early 2015.
The 30th round of Geneva Talks, an international format of meetings addressing Georgian-Russian relations, has concluded today without definite results after the sides discussed the Russia-Abkhazia treaty and other issues affecting those in Georgia's breakaway regions.
The de facto leaders of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the Russian Federation will sign a so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” today. The global community is assessing this as "yet another step that goes against ongoing efforts to strengthen security and stability in the region”.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and de facto leader of Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) Leonid Tibilov signed a so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” in Moscow today.
A handful of European countries have openly stated they do not recognise the so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” between Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the Russian Federation.
NATO does not recognise the so-called "Treaty on Alliance and Integration” signed between the Russian Federation and Georgia’s breakaway Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region on 18 March.
A Georgian delegation led by First Deputy Foreign Minister David Dondua is in Switzerland where the 32nd round of the Geneva International Discussions convenes on June 30 and July 1.
The Georgian Government has created a new inter-agency working group that will focus on the current developments in Georgia’s conflict zones.
The European Union (EU) has extended the mandate of its Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.
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.
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.