On 26-27 March 2013 a regular meeting in the framework of the International Geneva Discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia took place. At the meeting participated delegations of Republic of South Ossetia, Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russian Federation, US as well as representatives of EU, UN and OSCE. The South-Ossetian delegation was headed by the Plenipotentiary Presidential Envoy on post conflict resolution M. Dzioev.
Extra attention at the meeting was paid to the questions on non-use of force by Georgia against South –Ossetia and Abkhazia and insurance of security as per Medvedev-Sarkozi agreements from 12 August 2008. The South-Ossetian side underlined again the necessity to expedite the work on preparation and signing of legally binding agreements on non-use of force between Georgia and Republic of South Ossetia, Georgia and Republic of Abkhazia as the most important legal component in the security system. To prove common devotion to the non-use of force principle and as an important interim step in preparation of legally binding bilateral agreements as well as in support of the earlier made unilateral declarations by Presidents of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia, the South – Ossetian delegation roposed to accept a joint statement of the meeting participants on common devotion to recognized standards of International law, including the non-use of force principal, earlier initiated by the Russian delegation. A working group continued coordination of the text of the joint statement.
Discussing security and stability issues in the area of the state border between South –Ossetia and Georgia, the meeting participants noted the importance and usefulness of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism. The South – Ossetian side noted the necessity, as earlier stated at the IPRM meetings, of creation of arms free zones on the territories of Georgia adjoining to South-Ossetian border, as well as creation of a zone of increased consideration in Georgian airspace adjoining South Ossetia.
Representatives of South Ossetia called on the authorities of Georgia to start joint works on demilitarization and demarcation of the state border.
A comprehensive discussion of humanitarian issues took place, where were mainly discussed missing citizens of South Ossetia as well as residents of South Ossetia illegally detained in the prisons of Georgia. The South – Ossetian delegation was assured that current authorities of Georgia will be more responsible in finding out the fate of those missing in action.
Considering the previous meetings’ results and to increase the discussion efficiency, a joint final session of the two working groups was called. However, the counter-productive position of the Georgian delegation, particularly its’ leaders who ignored the session, did not allow to carry out the final discussion in a full scale.
In the frame of the 23-rd round of the Discussions, the International Experts carried out and informational session on the role and participation of women in the post conflict resolution.
The next meeting in Geneva in planned for end of June 2013.
27 March 2013