Archive - 30/3/2016

March 31, 2016 in Moscow will meet President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The unconstructive position of the Georgian delegation prevented the adoption of the joint statement of the commitment to the principle of non-use of force by the participants in the Geneva discussions, - told reporters Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of South Ossetia on post conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev.

According to him, the focus of the 35th round of international discussions, which took place on 22-23 March in Geneva, was on preparation of a legally binding document on the non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"Unfortunately, during the past rounds, we have not yet reached our main goal, which is facing the Geneva discussions – preparation of the legally binding documents on the non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as security of the peoples of South Ossetia and Abkhazia", ​​- said Dzhioev.

The discussions were held in two working groups - on security and humanitarian issues.

"The round was marked by the fact that on the eve of the meeting - 10 March there was a tripartite release of prisoners, as a result of which four our citizens illegally serving sentences in Georgian prisons, returned home, - said Dzhioev. - On behalf of South Ossetia, I thanked all those who, within and outside the Geneva Discussions took part in this noble cause. "

Dzhioev has noted that the South Ossetian side also drew attention to the recent increase in provocative actions by the Georgian side in the border area of South Ossetia and Georgia.

"Near the village of Jariasheni were repeatedly held unauthorized rallies,. - Dzhioev said. - We regarded them as another attempt by the Georgian side to escalate the situation on the eve of the important meetings – a meeting of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin with the representative of the Georgian Government - Zurab Abashidze and the next round of the Geneva discussions. "

The first working group, as usual, discussed the issues related to preparation of the legally binding documents on the non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia."

"As a step in this direction was suggested to adopt a joint statement of all parties to be committed to the principle of non-use of force - Dzhioev said. - We had pre-sent the participants the draft short statement. Our proposal was supported by the Abkhaz and Russian colleagues, representatives of international organizations, but once again the unconstructive position of the Georgian delegation prevented to make such a joint statement. "

The South Ossetian side has also focused on the fact that the situation in the region may be tense in connection with training of the DAESH terrorists in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia.

"The Georgian side tried to deny it, saying that it was the safest, the most stable region in Georgia, even for the president, government and non-governmental organizations in Georgia - said Dzhioev. - We, in turn, said that the Pankisi Gorge was the object of attention of the Georgian authorities, non-governmental organizations, that could be regarded that the situation in this region is tense.

Murat Dzhioev has added that in the course of the 35 rounds was also discussed the issue of the missing South Ossetian citizens.

"Serbian specialist Dusan Ignyatovich prepared a report with recommendations. This report, as the report of the experts of Council of Europe, made in 2010, contained the information that three citizens of South Ossetia were in the hands of law-enforcement bodies of Georgia - said Dzhioev. - Therefore, Georgia, as a state, is responsible to clarify the fate of these citizens. We expect that the recommendations contained in the report of Ignyatovich will be studied. "

Dzhioev has added that the South Ossetian side has also insisted on returning of the icon-triptych, stolen in 1991, to South Ossetia.

"The icon triptych is illegal in Georgia since 2004," - said Dzhioev.