Security situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions assessed as “relatively stable” at Geneva Int’l Discussions
The statement also said the issue of internally displaced persons and refugees could not be discussed “due to a walkout by some participants”. Photo via UN/Jean-Marc Ferré
Tweet 
Share
The 60th round of the Geneva International Discussions, the only international platform addressing security and humanitarian consequences of the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict, on Thursday and Friday reviewed the security situation in Georgia’s occupied regions and assessed it as “relatively stable”.
Despite the “continued highly challenging” regional and geopolitical environment, the participants of the Discussions reconfirmed their commitment to the process, the Co-Chairs of the platform said.
There were extensive and substantive exchanges of views on ways to further address core issues on the GID agenda, including non-use of force and international security arrangements”, the statement, published by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe noted.
The Co-Chairs called on the participants to “think about innovative approaches and engage constructively” to achieve progress and “concrete results” for the benefit of the “conflict-affected population and lasting peace”.
The statement also said the issue of internally displaced persons and refugees could not be discussed “due to a walkout by some participants”.
The next round of the Geneva International Discussions is to be held on June 25-26.
Lasha Darsalia, the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, on Friday said the Georgian delegation would raise “several topics” at the 60th round of Geneva International Discussion - a platform facilitating talks on the outcomes of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war - but added Russia was “avoiding” the issues and “showing quite destructive attitudes” in the engagements.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said “all responsibility” for Georgia’s occupied territories rested with Russia, and noted the stance was “not only a political statement, but also a legally proven fact”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said Georgia was committed to the Geneva International Discussions - the platform used for talks between Georgian agencies and de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied regions.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected claims by de facto authorities in the country’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region about the Georgian Government’s “refusal to engage in political dialogue” by calling the Geneva International Discussions - the platform used for talks between Georgian agencies and de facto authorities in the occupied regions - an “important platform”.