Georgian FM, co-chairs of Geneva International Discussions review security environment in Russian-occupied regions of Georgia
The officials underlined the need to keep the issue of the occupation of Georgian regions by Russia and the fulfilment of international obligations at a high level of the international community’s agenda. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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Security environment in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and in the vicinity of the occupation line, as well as the illegal actions of the occupation forces, were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili and the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions from the UN and OSCE - Cihan Sultanoğlu and Viorel Moșanu.
The meeting focused on the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and the need to use the format effectively to achieve tangible progress in the main issues on the agenda, such as Russia's fulfilment of international obligations under the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, as well as the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees, the Georgian foreign office said.
Darchiashvili drew attention to the security environment in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and in the vicinity of the occupation line, as well as the illegal actions of the occupation forces, which “further complicates” the security, humanitarian and human rights situation on the ground.
The officials underlined the need to keep the issue of the occupation of Georgian regions by Russia and the fulfilment of international obligations at a high level of the international community’s agenda.
The meeting also discussed the peace policy of the Georgian Government and the efforts made in the direction of the peaceful settlement of the Russian-Georgian conflict, both in the dimensions of deoccupation, and reconciliation and engagement.
The Georgian Government remains committed to the policy of peaceful de-occupation and will resist “all provocations” aimed at escalating a new military confrontation with “our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers and sisters,” Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Monday.
Georgian defence minister Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday said the policy of the ruling Georgian Dream authorities over the Russian-occupied regions of the country was “solely peaceful” and restoration of territorial integrity possible “only peacefully”, while also dismissing allegations of the domestic political opposition on poor conditions in the army as “disinformation and fake”.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said “any war where Georgians and Abkhazians, and Georgians and Ossetians face each other” with weapons again should not be allowed.
Abkhazians and Ossetians should “know for sure” that no Georgian government will ever follow the path of achieving deoccupation of its territories through war, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Wednesday.
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.
Georgian deputy foreign minister Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said the negotiation process at the 56th round of Geneva International Discussions had been “particularly difficult”, and noted the Georgian side, “as always”, had included the fulfilment of the six-point agreement by Russia in its agenda.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia on Tuesday said deoccupation of the country’s Russian-occupied regions, withdrawal of the occupation troops to the pre-2008 war lines and return of internally displaced persons would be in focus of tomorrow’s latest round of the Geneva International Discussions.