Georgian, Ossetian and Russian sides hold three-hour meeting amid occupation line tension
The meeting took place after the Ossetian side yesterday called on Georgia to dismantle the police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana, near the occupation line by 06:00 AM on August 30. Photo: RFE/RL Georgian service.
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The members of the Georgian government and occupation forces of the de-facto Tskhinvali region and Russia have held a meeting amid tensions along the occupation line in the Russia-occupied village of Tsnelisi today.
After the three-hour meeting was over, the Georgian and Ossetian sides made different statements.
Head of the Georgian Security Council Kakhaber Kemoklidze said the meeting participants were unanimous, saying the situation should be de-escalated, adding the meeting was held in a ‘constructive environment.’
The parties have agreed to take concrete steps to deescalate the current situation. All the sides have agreed to this,” Kemoklidze stated.
He said another meeting will be held next week in the Russia-occupied village of Ergneti.
Kakhaber Kemoklidze has assessed the meeting as a ‘great step made in the right direction’, and said the Ossetian side stated they did not intend to give any ultimatum to Georgia, adding the checkpoint issue has not been discussed at today’s meeting.
Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia Vladimer Bortsvadze stated the occupation forces said that the word ‘ultimatum’ was a misinterpretation by media outlets.
The population living in the Georgia-controlled area has no reason to be concerned. I would like to tell the same to those living in Russia-occupied Tsnelisi,” Georgian official Kemoklidze said, adding the Georgian police are ensuring security in the area.
While the Georgian officials say the parties have agreed on de-escalation and the checkpoint issue was not discussed during the meeting, ‘President’ of de-facto South Ossetia Republic Anatoly Bibilov stated that the demand on dismantling the Georgian police checkpoint remains unchanged and negotiations will continue.
He has also said that situation is currently stable in the area, adding the Ossetian side will also construct a checkpoint In Tsnelisi to ensure the safety of the population.
The meeting took place after the Ossetian side yesterday called on Georgia to dismantle the police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana, near the occupation line by 06:00 AM on August 30.
The Georgian government did not give into the demand.