Yet Another Technical Meeting Held in Ergneti Over Disputed Police Checkpoint

Security officials from Tbilisi, Tskhinvali and Russian Federation held the fifth “technical meeting” in village Ergneti, near the occupation line with Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia on October 1 over the disputed Georgian police checkpoint close to occupation line in Chorchana-Tsnelisi area.

Following the meeting, Deputy Director of the Analytical Department of the State Security Service of Georgia, Irakli Antadze, stated that the participants from Tskhinvali “still did not appear to be ready for a constructive dialogue.”

He said, the Georgian participants demanded suspension of “all the illegal activities” that cause tension on the ground, whereas Tskhinvali demanded dismantling of a Georgian police checkpoint, which, according to Antadze is “unacceptable.”

Antadze again noted that the above checkpoint is located “on the central Government-controlled territory,” and that discussions over this issue would continue at the upcoming round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID).

On his part, Tskhinvali representative Egor Kochiev also told local media that the sides did not yet manage to negotiate. He said, the “South Ossetian security forces are present in this region with one sole purpose to protect the population of the republic of South Ossetia and its territory.”

Today 5th round of talks facilitated by #EUMM and OSCE to adress situation in Chorchana-Tsnelisi. Agreement on certain measures to prevent incidents, but positions remain far apart. #EUMM will continue to facilitate dialogue through IPRM meetings and via the hotline. pic.twitter.com/wUc37Q4FIc

— Erik Hoeg (@erik_hoeg) October 1, 2019

Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission Erik Høeg also wrote on his official Twitter page following the meeting that positions over the disputed Chorchana-Tsnelisi area “remain far apart.” “EUMM will continue to facilitate dialogue through IPRM meetings and via the hotline,” he noted.

Read also: 

• 19/09/2019 – Geneva Talks Co-Chairs Hold Meetings in Tbilisi, Tskhinvali, Sokhumi
• 17/09/2019 – EUMM on Events in Chorchana-Tsnelisi Area
• 15/09/2019 – Geneva Talks Co-Chairs on Closure of Tskhinvali Crossing Points
• 13/09/2019 – Another Meeting Held in Ergneti Over Disputed Police Checkpoint
• 06/09/2019 – In Tit-for-Tat Move, Tskhinvali Places ‘Border Signs’, Flag in Chorchana-Tsnelisi Area
• 03/09/2019 – Tskhinvali to Close Crossing Points Ahead of Local Celebrations
• 02/09/2019 – Conflicting Claims as Tskhinvali Drone Goes Down Near Tsnelisi
• 31/08/2019 – U.S. Calls on Russia ‘to Prevent Further Escalation’ Near Occupation Line
• 31/08/2019 – Russia Concerned by ‘Escalation of Tension’ near Occupation Line
• 30/08/2019 – Security Officials Meet Over Disputed Police Checkpoint
• 30/08/2019 – Foreign Ministry Concerned by ‘Mobilization of Military Equipment, Personnel’ near Occupation Line
• 30/08/2019 – Georgian Officials Say Situation around Disputed Police Checkpoint ‘Stable’
• 30/08/2019 – IPRM Meeting ‘Disrupted’ as Tskhinvali Demands Removal of Georgia Police From Chorchana/Tsnelisi Area
• 29/08/2019 – GID Co-Chairs Speak ‘Borderization’ ahead of IPRM

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