Problems at Georgia’s Breakaway Regions Discussed at Geneva Int’l Talks

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reports that the 40th round of the International Talks of Geneva, established since the August War between Georgia and Russia in 2008, was held on June 20-21, where the participants of the negotiations were presented with individual status.

The talks were co-chaired by representatives from the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as delegates from Georgia, Russia and the United States (US), and authorities from de facto Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions.

The MFA reports that the talks were held within a two meeting-group format. At one meeting the representatives discussed security and stability issues in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, while the second meeting concerned the safe return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees to their homes.

Prior to the talks, an informal informational session was held about the existing experience over the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL), during which the successful example of Cyprus was discussed. An invited expert informed the participants about how free movement and communication between two divided communities in Cyprus has been established.

Georgian representatives again raised the issue of Russia's annexation policy, saying “it is expressed in the gradual military, political, economic and humanitarian integration of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions with Russia.”

Moreover, Georgia also condemned the unauthorized military deal over the unification of South Ossetian and Russian armies under the Russian Armed Forces which was assessed as another illegal move towards the annexation of the region.

The installation of barbed wire fences and new border signs, the kidnapping of Georgian citizens and the deprivation of the local youth of an education in their mother tongue was also condemned by Georgian representatives.

The co-chairs raised the Khurcha incident, where an unarmed 31 year-old citizen of Georgia, Giga Otkhozoria, was gunned down by a Russian border guard on Georgian-controlled territory in the village of Khurcha, close to the Nabakevi Crossing Point at the ABL on May 19, 2016. They said the murderer, who is an Abkhazian citizen and who is wanted by Interpol, should be held responsible as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the Georgian Delegation raised the issue of IDPs and their safe return to their homes in the occupied regions of Georgia. During the discussions, the representatives of the Russian Federation and de facto authorities of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali left the discussions in protest.

The next round of Geneva Talks has been scheduled for October 10-11, 2017.

Thea Morrison