South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov has received the co-chairmen of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia, who arrived in the Republic on an official visit.
At the beginning of the meeting the President welcomed the guests, noting that he had met some of them while working together in the format of the Joint Control Commission, engaged in settling the Georgian-Ossetian conflict before 2008.
"I know about the work being done by you at the Geneva discussions. The main issues that you are busy in - it's security and issues related to solution of the humanitarian problems. In my opinion, the main goal, of course, is to develop and sign the document on the nonuse of force by Georgia against South Ossetia", - said Tibilov.
The President noted with regret that after the 19 rounds of the discussions there was no progress in this issue.
"This problem must be approached more actively. Speaking about the development of future relations between South Ossetia and Georgia is impossible without ensuring security, "- stressed the head of the state.
He also recalled the events of 2008, when Georgia unleashed war against South Ossetia.
"We must make every effort to avoid further escalation. I have a request to you - to bring to the Georgian side the need of signing the document on the nonuse of force. Without signing this document, one cannot say of any progress in our relations, "- said Leonid Tibilov.
He also thanked those present for their participation in solution of the humanitarian problems, but noted that many of them were still unresolved.
In particular, Tibilov pointed to the problem of water supply to the border regions of the Republic, mainly to Leningor district.
The President has reminded that the Georgian side assumed a commitment to provide the villages in Leningor district with natural gas, but until now the population of this district is still without gas.
The President also touched on issues of mutual rendition.
According to him, the exchange of detainees in December last year had a positive effect in the society, and stressed the need to continue efforts in this direction.
"In that case, I think the credibility of the Geneva discussions and their participants will increase," - said Tibilov.
He also appealed to the co-chairs requesting at the next meeting in Geneva more responsible approach to the problem of the fate of the missing citizens of South Ossetia, as well as those ones who are serving "punishment" in prisons of Georgia.
"Many of them, according to the trustworthy information, are serving sentences on trumped-up charges. In particular, this applies to those the Georgian judiciary awarded a life sentence "- the president said.
Leonid Tibilov praised the activities within the framework of mechanisms on prevention and reaction to incidents and stated the need to continue this work.
"An important result of its activities was the exchange of detainees in December 2011," - he reminded.
The President has also expressed hope that the forthcoming round of the Geneva talks will be more effective.
In turn, the Head of the Delegation, the EU Ambassador Philippe Lefort noted the inability to withdrawal from the conflict without ensuring security.
"We will be actively working on this issue. By keeping constant negotiations, we found a way to avoid a conflict, "- he said.
Then the meeting continued behind closed doors.
It should be reminded that during the today's visit to South Ossetia, the delegation met with the South Ossetian members of the Geneva talks; then they `ll visit the water intake in Znaur and the Zonkar reservoir.
The Geneva discussions are conducted since October 2008 according to the agreements of presidents of Russia and France, reached after the events of August 2008 in South Ossetia. The Geneva meetings are attended on an equal basis by delegations of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the U.S. the EU, UN and OSCE.
