Geneva Talks: Georgia highlights Russia’s ‘illegal treaties’ with breakaway regions

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.