27th round of Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia
27th round of Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia took place in Geneva on 25-26 March 2014. At the meeting participated representatives of Republic of South Ossetia, Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russian Federation, United States as well as representatives of EU, UN and OSCE. South Ossetian delegation was headed by Presidential Envoy on post conflict resolution M.K. Jioev.
During the discussions South Ossetian delegation called on the meeting participants to activate work on the main goal of Geneva Discussions – work out legally binding documents on non use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia, drafts of those documents were submitted earlier. Expert work over the text of the joint statement on the principles of non use of force was proposed. This statement would have been a significant step towards the main goal of the discussions. However, destructive position of the Georgian delegation did not allow to finalize work over the statement again.
Discussing security and stability in the zone of South Ossetian – Georgian border line, the participants noted effectiveness and significance of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) under the aegis of the Geneva Discussions. The IPRM meetings takes place every month near the state border. Use of ‘hot line’ by the IPRM participants was also highly evaluated. At the same time was noted destructive character of the demonstrations organized by the Georgian side at the border. Demonstration carried out by Georgian radical organizations on 3rd March near the state border in village Atots and Balta was rated as a dangerous provocation. In this respect South Ossetian side expressed its regret about position of the UN Monitoring Mission in Georgia, responsible for territories of Georgia adjacent to state border, which ‘did not notice’ how dangerous and unpredictable would have been results of that provocation.
South Ossetian representatives underlined again that all works on demarcation of state border between Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia were carried out in full compliance with sovereign right of South Ossetia and facilitate stability in territories adjacent to the border. The submitted materials refute alleged violations of rights of local residents as well as show lenient approached of South Ossetian authorities to their needs. Destabilizing and provocative activities of the Georgian side on aggravation of informational tension were noted.
Representatives of South Ossetia reminded the Georgian side about the suggestion on joint delimitation of the border and Geneva Discussions Co-chairmen to mediate the process.
In the frame of humanitarian issues were discussed questions related to people missing in action and mutual release of the detainees. The participants welcomed information given by the Co-chairmen on the promise of the Procurator General of Georgia to expedite search of three young citizens of South Ossetia, detained by Georgian military in October 2008 and initiation of a criminal case on another person missing in action.
In the frame of the 27th round of Geneva discussions, an International Expert carried out informational sessions on general health issues.
The next round of Geneva Discussions to be carried out on 17-18 June 2014.
Geneva, 27 March 2014