Information for media on the results of the twentieth round of the Geneva international discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia.
The twentieth round of the Geneva international discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia ended June 8, 2012. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Republic of South Ossetia, Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, the Russian Federation, the United States, as well as representatives of the EU, UN and OSCE. South Ossetian delegation was headed by Boris Chochiev.
On the initiative of the South Ossetian delegation at the information session and at the plenary conference of the international discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia was considered the legitimacy of the terms "occupation" and "occupied territory", which Georgiatriesto put into circulation with regard to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Neither the independent international experts, nor the Georgian officials could bring legal arguments in support of the myth of the so-called "occupation". On the contrary, it is clear that the status of the Russian troops in South Ossetia is regulated by national legislation of the Republic of South Ossetia and its international treaties and agreements, having no relation to the territory of Georgia. The only purpose of staying the Russian military forces in South Ossetia – is ensuring of the state's security from further aggression of Georgia. Following the discussion of this issue was made a joint statement by the South Ossetian and Abkhazian delegations.
During the discussions the sides exchanged views on the current situation at the border of South Ossetia and Georgia. The situation is characterized by a steady trend towards stabilization. A number of the border violations have been reduced, while the Georgian unmanned aerial vehicles continue to intrude into the airspace of the Republic of South Ossetia. The actions of the Georgian authorities provoke tensionbyimposing forcibly the so-called "neutral passports" on the residents of South Ossetia, who cross the frontier between South Ossetia and Georgia.
The meeting continued discussions on a legally binding document on the non-use of force, securing the refusal of Georgia to unleash military actions against South Ossetia and providing security guarantees. The Georgian side once again refused to accept a compromise draft presented by the Russian Federation and brought to deadlock the discussion of the key question on the agenda of the Geneva talks.
The delegation of South Ossetia once again raised the question of the revitalization of searching for the citizens of South Ossetia, missing since 1989-1992 and 2008, indicating that there are reports about the mass graves of the dead Ossetians in Georgia, and required conducting research within the framework of the existing formats. It was also stated that the Georgian side continued to dodge cooperation on searching for the missing persons, without performing the recommendations of Hammerberg commission.
The next round of the Geneva talks is scheduled for October 2012.
