Geneva International Discussions to address situation in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali
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A Georgian delegation will participate in the Geneva International Discussions on March 28-29 where issues pertaining to the Georgia-Russia conflict will be discussed in depth.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry says Russia’s recent provocative actions on Georgia’s occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) will be on the top of agenda.
Topics that will be in special focus:
- so-called referendum on changing Tskhinvali region’s name to ‘the Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania”;
- integration of the Tskhinvali army into the Russian Armed Forces;
- closing of crossing-points connecting Abkhazia with the rest of Georgia and its heavy burden on the local population.
The Georgian delegation will once again raise the question of the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their original homes.
Davit Valishvili and his family live behind the barbed wire fence at Khurvaleti village, Shida Kartli. Photo by Salome Modebadze/WIC
Since the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008 the Geneva International Discussions have been the only format of dialogue between Georgia and Russia.
It is chaired by the OSCE, the EU and the UN. Representatives from Tbilisi, Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, as well as Moscow and Washington take part in the discussions.
According to the August 12, 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, issues including non-use of force, creation of international security arrangements in breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region and the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees are essential subjects of discussion.
The six-point ceasefire agreement that both Georgia and Russia signed after the five-day August 2008 war demands the withdrawal of Russian military forces from Georgian territory to create conditions for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
As of today, only four countries recognise Georgia’s breakaway regions as independent republics; these are Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru.
Georgian delegation hopes that Russian participants will attend both working groups – one working on security issues and another on reviewing the humanitarian situation and the discussion of several issues relating to documentation, crossings, language of instruction, missing persons and cultural heritage.
The OSCE Permanent Council denounces so-called parliamentary elections in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia and the decision of the de-facto government of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to hold a referendum on changing the name of the region and joining the Russian Armed Forces.
Austrian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Sebastian Kurz has congratulated the Georgian people on yesterday’s historic vote to allow for visa-free travel to the Schengen Area.
Representatives of Georgia’s de facto Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region are refusing to allow Georgians onto the breakaway territory to visit the graves of their loved ones for the Easter holiday.
Georgia is blaming Russia for its "deliberate affront” to the international community and the peace process.
Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis visited a family living behind a barbed wire fence near Russian-occupied region of Georgia - Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) today.
Developments in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia - Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were among the issues discussed at the United Nations Security Council’s meeting yesterday.
Security issues and humanitarian situation in Russian occupied regions of Georgia – Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) were discussed at the Geneva International Discussions on March 28-29.
Head of the NATO liaison office in Georgia William Lahue has condemned the integration of troops of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) with the Russian Armed Forces.
The Charge d’Affaires of the United States Missions to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Harry Kamian summed up the recent Geneva International Discussions today.
The 45th round of the Geneva International Discussions has touched upon the grave human rights situation in the occupied Georgian regions, as well as on cases of the murder and abduction of Georgian citizens and complications related to local incident prevention mechanisms.
Russia has accused NATO and the United States of creating threats to regional security as they support Georgia upgrade its military capabilities.The Russian Foreign Ministry also reports that concerns regarding the US-built Tbilisi Lugar Lab have not been alleviated.