The EU, OSCE and UN co-chairs of the Geneva Discussions met on Tuesday in Tskhinval with teachers and students of the English Department of the South Ossetian State University.
The head of the English language department, Mira Tskhovrebova, expressed gratitude to the co-chairs for the desire to communicate with the students studying English.
“We are aware of the work you are doing at the Geneva Discussions venue and appreciate your long-term efforts. At the same time, we understand that the most important problem for our people has not yet been resolved. I mean the unwillingness of the Georgian party to sign a document on the non-use of force against South Ossetia, the residents of our Republic are undoubtedly worried about their future,” Tskhovrebova said.
She has noted that the Ossetian people have repeatedly experienced aggression from Georgia.
“The university where our meeting is taking place today was built on the site of an old building that was destroyed as a result of the Georgian aggression in 2008. The new facility was built at the expense of Russia, which was the only one in the world which extended a helping hand to us during the August war and saved our people from extermination,” Tskhovrebova stressed.
The students asked the co-chairs what results have been achieved over the past years within the framework of the Geneva discussions, why the international community still does not recognize South Ossetia, and why Georgia does not sign a document on the non-use of force against the Republic of South Ossetia.
The EU Co-Chair Toivo Klaar, in turn, has noted that the members of the delegation are interested in talking with young people.
“It is important for us to meet young people in order to hear their opinions. Such a meeting was also organized with Georgian students, and we intend to communicate with Abkhaz youth as well. As for our work in Geneva, our goal is a peaceful settlement of the conflict, the establishment of trust between the parties, so that there is peace and stability. The fact that the parties do not refuse dialogue is already an achievement, they meet, discuss the existing issues, this is important,” said Klaar.
It should be noted that the delegation of the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on Security in the Transcaucasia arrived in Tskhinval on Tuesday to discuss issues related to the preparation for the upcoming round, which is scheduled for June 29-30 this year. At the moment, this is the only platform for dialogue between representatives of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia. Representatives of Russia, the United States, as well as the UN, OSCE and the EU are participating in the discussions as mediators.
