Detentions, restrictions on free movement in Russia-occupied Georgian regions in focus of Geneva int’l talks
The Geneva International Discussions were launched in October 2008 to address the consequences of the Russia-Georgia war. Photo: Georgian Foreign Ministry press office
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Ongoing detentions, unresolved cases of missing persons, restrictions on freedom of movement and travel abroad, response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and specific security concerns in Georgia's Russia-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) have been in focus of the 54th round of the Geneva International Discussions which took place on October 12 and 13.
The overall security situation on the ground was assessed as relatively stable, although participants brought attention to a number of outstanding issues”, Its co-chairs reported earlier today.
They also noted that the discussions ‘once again paid particular attention to the core agenda item of non-use of force and international security arrangements’.
The GID process continues to serve as the primary venue in which the consequences of conflict are addressed as mandated by the six-point ceasefire agreement of 2008”, the co-chairs said in a joint communique.
They acknowledged the continued functioning of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Ergneti, including co-operative efforts over the summer on issues of water use, and emphasised the need to resume regular meetings of the Gali IPRM without further delay.
The Georgian foreign ministry has meanwhile tweeted:
Violation of ????????'s sovereignty & terr. integrity by????????, illegal detention of #Geo citizens, humanitarian crisis in #Abkhazia & #Tskhinvali & implementation of #CeasefireAgreement were t/major topics of t/54th Round of #GenevaDiscussions.
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) October 13, 2021
Statement of ???????? MFA: https://t.co/HAFNiw03Qs
The co-chairs welcomed the lifting of restrictions at the Enguri bridge and Saberio-Pakhulani crossing points and called for freedom of movement to be fully restored, in particular at the Odzisi crossing point.
Despite constructive engagement on a variety of humanitarian issues, a discussion on the core issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees could not take place due to a walkout by some participants, which disrupted the round”, they announced.
Theyagain called on all participants ‘to increase efforts to build trust and confidence among them and to address all elements of comprehensive security’.
The next meeting will be held in Geneva on December 7 and 8.
Georgia's first deputy minister of foreign affairs has also tweeted:
Tough talks at today's 54th Round of #GenevaDiscussions on????????????????#RusGeoConflict, w/focus on implementation of #CeasefireAgreement &return of IDPs&refugees. Would be critical 2find humanitarian solution on outstanding issues, incl. on release of illegally detained #Geo citizens. pic.twitter.com/Ea8iKIndtE
— Lasha Darsalia (@LashaDarsalia2) October 13, 2021
The Geneva International Discussions were launched in October 2008 to address the consequences of the Russia-Georgia war.
The format brings together the participants of the conflict - Russia, Georgia and de facto regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali, as well as the United States.
The co-chairs of Geneva International Discussions (GIDs) from the European Union, United Nations and OSCE, Toivo Klaar, Cihan Sultanoglu and Rudolf Michalka remain “fully engaged to help address the challenges” created by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry reports that it is ‘concerned’ Russia has broken off the 51st round of Geneva International discussions, the only international format discussing the consequences of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
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.
"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 Foreign Ministry has responded to Moscow’s calls on Tbilisi and the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to delimit the so-called border and called it ‘completely unacceptable,’ noting that ‘the only solution to the issue is ending the occupation of Georgian territories.’
“Georgia has to complete the delimitation and demarcation of the border with Russia, and this, of course, will take place within the borders of united Georgia”, said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili while responding to Moscow’s statement regarding an initiative to delimit borders between Georgia and the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia/Tskhinvali.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Co-chair of Geneva International Discussions (GID) and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar, in Tbilisi earlier today to discuss occupation and regional security issues.