Geneva Talks Co-Chairs Hold Meetings in Tbilisi, Tskhinvali, Moscow

Co-Chairs of Geneva International Discussions (GID) from the European Union, United Nations and OSCE, Toivo Klaar, Cihan Sultanoğlu and Rudolf Michalka, respectively, held meetings in Tbilisi, Tskhinvali and Moscow between February 6-12.

According to Toivo Klaar, in Tbilisi, they held “important discussions” regarding the security on the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) and the continued closure of crossing points.

On February 12, the Co-Chairs met with the Georgian Foreign Ministry representatives. According to the information released by the Foreign Ministry, at the meeting Deputy Minister Lasha Darsalia expressed his concern over the “frequent provocations” along the ABL, including the “illegal actions of the occupying forces near the Chorchana village.”

Lasha Darsalia thanked GID Co-Chairs for their efforts in the peaceful resolution of the Russo-Georgia conflict, noting the importance of preserving Georgia’s issue “constantly on the international agenda.”

Earlier on February 10, State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili also held separate meetings with Sultanoğlu and Michalka.

As part of their visit to Georgia, the GID Co-Chairs traveled to occupied Tskhinvali as well. Murat Jioev, representative of the Russian-backed Tskhinvali authorities at the Geneva International Discussions (GID) was cited by the region’s media as saying that positions of Tbilisi and Tskhinvali over the Chorchana-Tsnelisi tension differ.

Denying any humanitarian crisis in the Akhalgori Municipality of the occupied region, Jioev said “the Georgian propaganda absolutely differs from the real situation” on the ground.

Last week, the GID Co-Chairs also visited Moscow. Speaking of Moscow visit, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar told Civil.ge on February 12 that “we [stated] very clearly [with the Russian representatives our] point regarding the crossing points.” “We made it clear that we expect from the Russian participants a constructive engagement in trying to resolve the situation we find ourselves in,” said Klaar.

The GID – the multilateral forum to address security and humanitarian consequences of the Russo-Georgian War of August 2008 – are co-chaired by representatives of OSCE, EU and UN, and involve participants from Georgia, Russia and the United States, as well as members of both the Georgian exiled administrations of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and the two regions’ Russian-backed authorities, in their personal capacities. Sessions are held in two working groups, with the first group discussing peace and security matters, and the second – humanitarian concerns.

The next round of the GID is scheduled for March 31-April 1, 2020.

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