Message of the South Ossetian delegation to the media on the 27 round of Geneva discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia
25-26 March 2014 in Geneva was being held the 27 round of Geneva discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Republic of South Ossetia, the Republic of Abkhazia, Georgia, the Russian Federation, the United States, as well as the EU, UN and OSCE representatives. South Ossetian delegation was headed by Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev.
During the discussions, the South Ossetian delegation urged the participants to intensify efforts in the direction of the main objectives of the Geneva discussions – to draw up legally binding documents on the non-use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia, the drafts of which had been presented previously. It was continued the expert work on the text of the joint statement of the discussions on the commitment to the principle of non-use of force. Such a statement would be an important and responsible step towards the main goal of the Geneva talks. However, the destructive position of the Georgian delegation again prevented to finalize the statement.
Discussing the issues of security and stability on the South Ossetian - Georgian border, the participants noted the effectiveness and positive impact of the Mechanisms for preventing and responding to incidents (MPRI), under the auspices of the Geneva discussions and conducting monthly meetings in the border area. Positively was marked the "hot line" communications between the MPRI members. At the same time it was considered destabilizing the protest actions conducted by the Georgian side at the state border. As a deliberate and dangerous provocation was considered a meeting held by Georgian radical organizations on 3 March near the state border in the area of the villages of Atotsi and Balta In this regard, the South Ossetian delegation has expressed regret regarding the position of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, , whose area of responsibility includes the territory of Georgia , adjacent to the South Ossetian -Georgian state border, which "did not observe" the danger and unpredictability of the consequences of this provocative act.
South Ossetian representatives reiterated that all the delimitation works at the state border of the Republic of South Ossetia with Georgia are conducted in full compliance with the sovereign rights of South Ossetia and contribute to the stability in the areas adjacent to the frontier. The presented materials refute the allegations of the alleged violations of the rights of the residents of the villages along the border and show a humane approach of the South Ossetian authorities to meet their needs. It was noted the destabilizing and provocative course of the actions by the Georgian side to buildup information tensions.
South Ossetian representatives reminded on the proposal of the Georgian side to start working together on the border delimitation, and the Co-Chairs of the Geneva Discussions – to mediate in this matter.
As part of the overall security situation in the humanitarian sphere were discussed issues to searching for the missing persons and mutual release of the persons in custody. The participants welcomed the information of the co-chairs about the promise of the General Prosecutor of Georgia to accelerate clarification of the fate of three young citizens of South Ossetia, captured by the Georgian security forces in October 2008, and to initiate a criminal case on another missing person.
As part of the 27 round of the Geneva discussions, the international expert conducted an informational session on general health issues.
The next round of the Geneva talks is scheduled for 17-18 June 2014.
