Geneva discussions on security in South Caucasus are stalemated, reported the Plenipotentiary for Post-Conflict Settlement in his phone conversation with the RES Information Agency. The sides could reach any agreement at the 11th round of discussions in Geneva on the elaboration of a paper that would guarantee non-use of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia. "The main issue focused upon at the discussions was the non-use of force. However, as it could have been expected the Georgian side and its supporters started a more openly express their viewpoint that there is no need in elaboration of the draft paper when there is already Medvedev-Sarkozy agreements. The representatives of Sakashvili's regime were backed by the US. Deputy Secretary of State Philip Gordon", reported Chochiev.
Chochiev underlined that the US. representative received a tough response from the South Ossetian, Abkhazian and Russian sides: "The Sarkozy-Medvedev agreements of 12 August 2008 and 8 September 2008 were amended with a notion on the necessity to elaborate a legally-binding document which would guarantee non-use of force. Taking into account the difference in the viewpoints of the discussions' participants, this issue has been postponed for the next round of discussions", he underscored. The discussions also focused on border-crossing between South Ossetia and Georgia, but the South Ossetian and Abkhazian delegations refused to participate in the discussion. "We are not going to discuss any issues with Georgia in relation to border-crossing. We have a law under discussion to regulate the check-points at the state border and reflect on other necessary aspects."
In the second working group, where according to Chochiev, humanitarians issues and the problem of refugees were discussed, the work also failed: "Due to the fact that the viewpoints of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were not taken into account, our delegations quit the session room".
There was also a trilateral meeting held with the participation of South Ossetia, Georgia and OSCE to discuss water supply from South Ossetia to Georgia and gas supply to Leningor district.
"Georgia demands for guarantees that the gas will be used only by the civilian population, but not the Russian military personnel there. We have firmly stated it is excluded. The Georgian side makes us cut off the water going to Georgia", stated Chochiev.
According to him, the discussions in Geneva bring less and less results from one round to another: "The South Ossetian side sees no solution to issues related to security or humanitarian aspects without the non-use of force problem settled. The United States are to be blamed for this."
The next round of discussions will take place end of July 2010.
To remind, the 11th round of the international discussions on security in South Caucasus took place 8 June. Delegations of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Russia, the USA, as well as representatives of the EU, UN and OSCE participate in the discussions.
