On 22 January, a working meeting of the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev and Foreign Minister Murat Djioev with the official delegation of the Geneva Discussions’ Co-Chairs took place. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to all aspects of the Geneva talks, including the problems to be discussed at the 9th round.
A meeting between the delegation of the Geneva talks Co-Chairs of the EU, OSCE and UN and the discussions’ South Ossetian participants – Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev, Foreign Minister Murat Djioev and others, was held in Tskhinval. The Co-Chairs’ Delegation was headed by the EU Envoy Pierre Morel. It is worth mentioning that after Kazakhstan has assumed the OSCE Chairmanship, the Organization is represented at the Discussions in Geneva by Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliev. Boris Chochiev had expressed his assuredness that the participation of new representatives in the Geneva Discussions would give new impetus to the talks.
According to Chochiev, the situation was difficult and the 9th round of talks would not be easy either.
The meeting on preparation for the next round of the Geneva Discussions scheduled for 28 January has finished in Tskhinval. As Boris Chochiev, the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement, reported to the media after the meeting, the Co-Chairs discussed the issues related to signing of the document, which would guarantee non-use of force against South Ossetia, gas and water supply, the missing and abducted persons, border-crossing. He emphasized that Georgia and international agencies do not accept that there is a state border and “we are not going to change our position in this regard”.
The gas supply to Leningor district of South Ossetia and potable water supply to Georgia were discussed at the meeting held in Tskhinval between Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev with the independent expert Werner Johannides, engaged in the settlement of these issues within the frames of the Geneva discussions. As Boris Chochiev reported after the meeting, the issue of illegal and inhumane actions of the Georgian side in regards to gas cut-off for the population of Leningor district of South Ossetia has been repeatedly raised at Geneva talks.
The Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Tskhinval refused to facilitate the visit of the relatives of the missing South Ossetian citizens to Tbilisi”, reported the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev.
“During the visit of Zurab Nogaideli and representatives of non-governmental organizations to South Ossetia on 19 December 2009, the relatives of the missing South Ossetian citizens requested them to facilitate the organization of meetings with human rights NGOs in Georgia, and public appeal broadcast by Georgian media. This agreement has been reached and we asked the International Committee of the Red Cross in Tskhinval to facilitate the relatives’ visit to Tbilisi and back. In response to this request, we received a refusal”, said Chochiev.
A delegation of Co-Chairs of the Geneva discussions is expected to arrive in South Ossetia on 22 January. The delegation includes the EU Envoy Pierre Morel, OSCE Ambassador Bolat Nurgaliev, UN representative Marco Biencini and other officials of these organizations. In Tskhinval, the delegation will be received by the Special Representative for Post-Conflict Settlement Boris Chochiev and participants to the South Ossetian delegation in Geneva Talks.