Georgian gov’t establishes commission on deoccupation, peaceful conflict resolution
Twenty per cent of Georgian territory is occupied by Russia. photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian government has established a commission to create a Georgian State Strategy for Deoccupation and Peaceful Conflict Resolution.
The commission will be managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The commission will be set up with public involvement, and will develop an inclusive and comprehensive state strategy by the end of the year.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani noted that the main goal of the commission will be ‘to establish a common national process and jointly develop a common approach and strategic vision to deoccupation and the peaceful settlement of the conflict.’
FM Zalkaniani said that the difference between the already existing strategy and the one to come is ‘an even higher degree of legitimacy’ guaranteed by a much more inclusive process.
…the country is facing new and more difficult geopolitical challenges and at the same time the humanitarian situation in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali is getting worse every day […] it is necessary for our policy to be proactive and take even more effective and specific steps”, stated FM Zalkaliani
The new strategy will cover all key areas such as:
- The Geneva international format
- The 2008 ceasefire agreement
- Strengthening of international security mechanisms
- The return of refugees
- The deescalation of the humanitarian situation
- Russia's non-use of force
The operation of the commission will be a responsible and comprehensive process, which will involve all segments of society such as government institutions, civil society, research and analytical centres, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), experts and people affected by the conflicts, stated Zalkaliani.
Twenty per cent of Georgian territory is occupied by Russia. Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia) were recognised as independent states by Russia following the Russian-Georgian war in 2008. Based on a report from the Democracy Research Institute (DRI), the number of military personnel at military bases in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali has reached 10,000 and is still increasing.