Before the next round of international negotiations in Geneva, during the meeting with the co-chairs of the discussions, the Russian side, as one of the participants, spoke about “the process of delimitation of Georgia’s border with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the importance of further demarcation”.
In addition, as the Russian media writes, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Galuzin, during the meeting with the co-chairmen of the international discussions in Geneva, emphasized “the need for more active work with Tbilisi after the incident at the border of South Ossetia”.
On November 6, near the village of Kirbali, in the territory occupied by Russia, a representative of the occupying force killed Tamaz Ginturi while trying to arrest him illegally. His fellow villager Levan Dotiashvili, who was with him, was illegally detained by the Russian occupation forces, but was handed over to the Georgian side on November 9.
The next round of Geneva discussions should be held in early December.
Geneva discussions have been going on since 2008, after the August war. The negotiations are held under the co-chairmanship of the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE. Georgia, Russia and the US, as well as representatives of the de facto governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, participate in the process. Before the next round of discussions, the co-chairs usually hold preparatory meetings in Tbilisi, Sokhumi and Tskhinvali.
Non-use of force is one of the main issues of the Geneva talks. Georgia has already made a unilateral condition of non-use of force and demands the same from the Russian Federation. Russia, which states that it does not consider itself a party to the conflict, wants Georgia to officially sign similar agreements with Abkhazia and the de facto Republic of South Ossetia. Such an initiative is unacceptable for the Georgian side.
Related story: Int’l Community Condemns Russian Killing of Georgian Man on Occupied Territory
