Geneva Int’l Discussions’ co-chairs call for ‘immediate reopening’ of Tskhinvali crossing points
Russian-occupied Georgian region of Tskhinvali has closed its crossing points connecting with the rest of Georgia in early September. Photo: Erik Hoeg/Twitter
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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.
The co-chairs released a statement later today, saying that “recent months have seen a serious deterioration of the security situation on the ground, which has raised fears amongst the local population”.
We appeal to the relevant actors to re-open, without delay, all crossing points that have been closed since early September”, the co-chairs said.
While the concerns about the security situation are shared, steps to address these should be proportional and should always take humanitarian aspects into consideration”, they added.
The co-chairs further underscored that “the ongoing closure of crossing points is aggravating an already difficult situation, as illustrated by recent medical cases, with a severe impact on the local conflict-affected population”.
Statement by the co-chairs on the continued closure of the crossing points to South Ossetia pic.twitter.com/PkGqyTsQmh
— Toivo Klaar (@ToivoKlaar) November 6, 2019
Together with their organisations the co-chairs said they “remain actively engaged in contributing to a solution to the continuing security challenges in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area” as well.
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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”.
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