Pertaining to the results of the 34th round of the Geneva International Discussions
Regular round of the Geneva International Discussions was held on December, 8-9, 2015. Official mission from South Ossetia, headed by Murat Dzhioev, the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement, missions from Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the USA as well as representatives of the EU, the UN and OSCE took part in negotiations.
As usual, the discussions were held in two working groups: on security and humanitarian issues.
According to the agreements dated August 12, 2008 and September 8, 2008 the main attention in the working group on security was paid to the problems of maintaining of security and stability in regions and non-use of force by Georgia against South Ossetia and Abkhazia. South Ossetia delegation called once again for boosting work on legally binding bilateral agreements on non-use of force which would have firm international warranties.
Expert work on writing of a joint statement on commitment of all participants of the discussions to principle of non-use of force was continued. However, taking into consideration the fact that once again they failed to come to terms, South Ossetian party suggested members of the discussions to make oral unilateral statements on commitment to generally recognized regulations of international law, including the principle of non-use of force and threat of force as an interim step. Early drafts of such statements were suggested to be used. The parties agreed to continue this work at coming round.
Detailed conversation on security and stability about South Ossetia-Georgian and Abkhazia-Georgian borders took place. On one hand relative stability characterized by absence of serious incidents (throughout the discussed period) that could aggravate situation about South Ossetia-Georgian frontier was noted. On the other hand the statistics speaks about increase in number of border violations by Georgian citizens. At the same time the destabilizing provocative demarche aimed at intentional damage of South Ossetian border markers and forced entry-resistant constructions installed along South Ossetia-Georgian frontier line on South Ossetia territory was mentioned.
On behalf of the Republic Government South Ossetia delegation called once again Georgian side to get to development of a bilateral legal basis for the frontier delimitation and demarcation. That would help solving problems that depend on the fact that there are no agreements on the frontier.
Members of South Ossetia delegation gave responses and explanations for absolutely baseless Georgian claims made after a Russian frontier post was established near the southern face of the Mamison Pike at the state line between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation.
As one of major conditions of maintaining stability and security around Ossetia-Georgian border the activity of IPRM was noted. Also the productivity of “the hot line” organized upon IPRM was marked.
South Ossetian party expressed concern about increasing threat to stability and security in the region in context of NATO enlargement in Georgia alongside with work on legally binding agreements on non-use of force regularly sabotaged by Georgian authorities and aggressive statements made by Georgian officials. The delegates drew attention to the statements made by NATO representatives that could be regarded as support for Georgian revanchist ambitions in relation to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Detailed conversation on humanitarian issues among which the issue of the destiny of the missing people and South Ossetia citizens who had been illegally condemned in Georgia took an important place.
Participants of the discussion expressed hope that the work conducted by the invited international expert on missing people cases would help in clarifying destinies of the citizens of South Ossetia considered missed. South Ossetia participants reminded once again that authorities of the Republic were ready to solve the problem of mutual jail release of South Ossetia and Georgia citizens kept in places of detention and recalled that several times have been steeps of good will made in this direction recently.
Within the discussion on cultural heritage South Ossetia participants raised once again the problem of returning to the Republic the unique icon (the Okoni triptych) that had been stolen from South Ossetia museum and currently is in Georgia.
The problem of refugees wasn’t discussed within the round. It is expected that renewal of negotiations on this subject would become possible when Georgia gives up turning artificially the problem into a political issue.
Non-constructive position of Georgian delegates who tried to impose on other participants their own agenda with the connivance of Mr.Zalber, the Chair at the first working group meeting, the EU representative, didn’t allow to end the meeting properly.
An information session on international best practices in recognition of identity cards and travel documents in conflict-affected areas was organized in anticipation of the 34th round of the Discussions.
Next meeting in Geneva is preliminary appointed to March, 2016.
December 9, 2015, Geneva