The meeting on preparation for the next round of the Geneva Discussions scheduled for 28 January has finished in Tskhinval. As Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement, reported to the media after the meeting, the Co-Chairs discussed the issues related to signing of the document, which would guarantee non-use of force against South Ossetia, gas and water supply, the missing and abducted persons, border-crossing. He emphasized that Georgia and international agencies do not accept that there is a state border and “we are not going to change our position in this regard”.

“There are new proposals as to the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM). The EU Co-Chair Pierre Morel had a phone conversation with Tomas Hammarberп, who will send in near future independent experts, who will conduct their investigation into missing cases and whether the detention of our citizens in Georgian prisons is legitimate”, reported Chochiev. According to Ambassador Pierre Morel, the practice had shown that it is better to use direct dialogue and step by step settle all problems.
You have heard about the topicы suggested for the discussion at the 9th Round of Geneva talks. We have identified the differences in our positions. There are different interpretations of the MedvedevSarkozy Agreement and we will work on that. It is necessary to take concrete steps. It is crucial to resume the work of the Mechanisms that had been suspended for two months”, said Morel. .
As Bolat Nurgaliev, the OSCE Ambassador, noted in his conversation with the media representatives, the Organization is trying to resume the presence in the Republic. “We are determined to actively work with our colleagues in order to establish peace in the region. For the OSCE it is extremely important to re-establish its presence in South Ossetia. We have discussed with the authorities a number of variants of how OSCE could concretely get involved in security sector, economic projects to be implemented in the region”, he said.