Co-chairs of Geneva International Discussion say ‘borderisation’ raises tension on ground
The GID co-chairs visited the village of Gugutiantkari, in Gori Municipality, near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region ahead of the IPRM meeting. Photo: Toivo Klaar/Twitter
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Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), who met with the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani on Wednesday, have released a statement on the “borderisation” process near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The recent developments in the Gugutiantkari area have raised tensions on the ground and have humanitarian consequences for the local people. As with all such fencing, the newly erected structures hinder freedom of movement for people living there, prevent them from reaching their orchards and threaten access to irrigation water”, the GID co-chairs stated.
- Georgian FM: gov't to use "all opportunities" with Geneva discussions to stop unlawful borderisation
The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions issued a statement, read more here: https://t.co/D1HhEOw2wt
— OSCE (@OSCE) August 28, 2019
Their visit is part of the GID co-chairs’ “continual efforts to address the potential effects of this and other developments”, ahead of the OSCE-EUMM-led Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting that will be held on August 29.
We have been and will continue to be in contact with all relevant actors, drawing their attention to this and other pressing issues, and call on them to make full and responsible use of the existing mechanisms for communication to resolve the current and other concerns”, they concluded.
Earlier that day the GID co-chairs also visited the village of Gugutiantkari in Gori Municipality, where the occupation forces have been erecting artificial barriers since August 7.
The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar wrote on his Twitter account that “borderisation” cannot be accepted.
Thank you to team of #EUMM and HoM @erik_hoeg for instructive visit to Gugutiantkari today. Fencing divides communities and causes hardship. “Borderisation” cannot be accepted. pic.twitter.com/pktmJNJnY4
— Toivo Klaar (@ToivoKlaar) August 28, 2019
The Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Erik Hoeg also tweeted that "borderistaion" in Georgia will be discussed at Thursday's IPRM meeting in Ergneti.
Together with 2 GID co-chairs I joined #EUMM patrol this morning to observe "borderization" near Gugutiantkari at Administrative Boundary Line. New fencing further divides communities. Will also be discussed at an IPRM meeting in Ergneti tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/jmxJcgiKiV
— Erik Hoeg (@erik_hoeg) August 28, 2019
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has called on the international community to take “effective measures to stop the illegal activities of the occupation forces” in Georgia.
It also called on the Russian Federation “to immediately stop its illegal activities” and withdraw its forces from Georgian territory to ensure “sustainable peace and security” on the ground.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani has told reporters his office will use "all available opportunities" to prevent unlawful actions along the administrative boundary line separating Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions from the rest of Georgia.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have held a phone conversation today. David Zalkaliani provided Guterres with information on the situation in the Russia-occupied regions of Georgia. The latest developments along the occupation line have also been discussed including the illegal erection of a‘border’ and detentions.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili condemned the so-called 'presidential elections' in the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia in a statement on Monday, stating the Georgian government was joined by its international partners in not accepting the vote.
“The so-called ‘presidential elections’ are yet another futile attempt to legalise ethnic cleansing, ongoing illegal occupation and factual annexation in the region of Abkhazia”, Georgian Foreign Ministry stated.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) said today’s Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting “was marked by a series of intense exchanges on the topic of Tsnelisi between participants”.
Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) said the closure of the crossing points between Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region and the rest of Georgia “is creating additional hardship for the local people and is further raising tensions”.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia spoke of the situation in occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions with the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Rudolf Michalka.
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia said the main issues that will be discussed at the ongoing Geneva International Discussions (GID) include the recent developments along the occupation line.
"Destructive and provocative activities” of the occupation forces near the Tbilisi-controlled village of Chorchana as well as “the grave humanitarian consequences” caused by occupied Tskhinvali’s decision to close its crossing-points were discussed at the 49th round of Geneva International Discussions.
The Georgian State Security Service has denied illegal “borderisation” in the village of Kobi in Khashuri Municipality near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. However, it said, Russian occupation forces continue provocative activities along the villages of Chorchana and Tsagveli.
Giorgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said the continued “borderisation” in the village of Atotsi in Kareli Municipality, near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, is “unacceptable”.
Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions call for “the immediate re-opening of all crossing points” on the administrative boundary line with the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
At an online meeting with the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) from the European Union, United Nations and the OSCE, Toivo Klaar, Cihan Sultanoglu and Rudolf Michalka, Georgian Deputy Minister Lasha Darsalia spoke of the situation in the Russian-occuied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar and Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani discussed the security and humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions yesterday.
Georgian deputy foreign minister Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said the 56th round of the Geneva International Discussions would focus on the need to fulfil the obligations undertaken by Russia under the 2008 ceasefire agreement that ended the conflict between the two countries.
Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the external affairs of the European Union, on Wednesday said the bloc remained committed to its “active involvement” in the Geneva International Discussions as a Co-Chair of the talks.