November 20 co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia paid a working visit to the Republic of South Ossetia. In Tskhinval the delegation was received by representatives of leadership of the Republic of South Ossetia, led by the RSO Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev.
The sides discussed the issues of preparation for the next round of the Geneva talks, scheduled for December 11-12, 2012, and the current security situation at the border of South Ossetia and Georgia. The participants confirmed the key goal of the Geneva discussions - to ensure lasting security in the region and the exclusion of resumption of the military conflict. In this context the South Ossetian side has once again emphasized its position on the need to sign a legally binding agreement on non-use of force between Georgia and the Republic of South Ossetia.
The meeting participants discussed the topic of future meetings of the Mechanism on Prevention and Reaction to Incidents (MPRI) and the issues of improving its activities. It was stressed that it should be activated the efforts to search for the missing persons and determine the fate of the citizens of South Ossetia illegally convicted by the courts of Georgia.
Touching the humanitarian issues, the participants discussed the current socio-economic problems. However, taking into account the UNGA resolution on refugees and internally displaced persons, adopted in summer in New York on the initiative of Georgia, the South Ossetian side has reiterated that it is impossible to participate in the continuation of the dialogue on this subject in Geneva.
November 19 the Co-Chairs of the Geneva Discussions visited Leningor district of the Republic, where they met with the leadership and the local population.
Tskhinval, November 20, 2012
