Tskhinvali is alarmed by the resumption of kidnappings in Georgia, stated Konstantin Kochiev, head of the South Ossetian delegation and State Advisor to the President, during a meeting with the UN, OSCE, and EU Co-Chairs of the Geneva Discussions in Tskhinval.
"Student Tamaz Goloev, who was traveling to a neighboring state on business, was kidnapped, and we are very concerned about his fate. This is a very negative signal for our process, for discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia," Kochiev said.
The meeting in Tskhinval was held in preparation for the next round of the international discussions.
Kochiev has emphasized that this format has proven its usefulness for post-conflict resolution.
"This format has been in place for a long time and has proven its usefulness. It helps ensure predictability, stabilize the situation, and prevent potential complications in the border areas. The role of this dialogue is one of the most important factors contributing to the preservation of peace," Kochiev has noted.
At the same time, the South Ossetian representative has clarified the terminology, emphasizing that the South Ossetian party prefers to speak of "security control" and "supporting the settlement" rather than "conflict management," which has a specific connotation in the Russian language.
One of the main topics of the upcoming round of discussions in Geneva, according to Kochiev, should be the resumption of the work on a document on the non-use of force. Despite the lack of unity in the parties' approaches to this agreement, the South Ossetian delegation considers the very fact of resuming discussions positive.
"We believe that all participants must proceed from the indisputable fact that in 2008, it was the Georgian troops who attacked South Ossetia and invaded our territory. This act of aggression, the subsequent actions to force the aggressor to peace, and the signing of the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreements created the conditions for launching the post-conflict settlement process, which we are currently engaged in. These aspects must be taken into account when preparing a document on the non-use of force," the State Advisor has concluded.
Konstantin Kochiev has expressed hope that today's meeting in Tskhinval will allow the parties to thoroughly discuss incidents on the ground and will make a constructive contribution to preparations for the upcoming round in Geneva.
