In Geneva, the question was raised again about the need to strengthen the work on legally binding instruments on the non-use of force between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia, which would have firm international guarantees, said the Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement of the Republic Murat Dzhioev.
According to him, the work took place in two working groups. The first working group discussed security issues near the borders of the Republic of South Ossetia with Georgia, while the second group dealt with humanitarian issues.
"When discussing security issues, it was noted that the situation in recent months was relatively calm, but, nevertheless, the Georgian side periodically aggravated the situation near the border and created situations that needed attention. These are deliberate border violations. For example, ongoing excursions for representatives of the international community to our frontiers when they view South Ossetia through binoculars. They said during the discussions that South Ossetia is an open state. We are happy to receive everyone who respect our country, our people and is ready to come on the only existing road - through the Russian Federation ", - told reporters the Envoy at the end of the next round.
The South Ossetian delegation has noted that there are several risk groups for security in the region.
"The first group includes threats related to border violations, the second group is the information war of Georgia against South Ossetia and its people, creating a negative image of South Ossetia at all international platforms that are available to Georgia. Against this background, we told about the development of the Republic, starting from the state structures to the recent parliamentary elections, to the development of the socio-economic sphere, education, and sport, noting the recent victory of our team in the ConIFA "World Cup,” said Dzhioev.
He has added that the third risk group is associated with the rapprochement of Georgia with NATO. "Strengthening the position of NATO in Georgia," he stressed, "is a serious risk to security in the region as a whole."
During the discussions, issues related to the search for missing persons were also discussed, while the South Ossetian delegation appealed to international organizations, in particular the OSCE, to extend the mandate of the international independent expert Dusan Ignatovic. In this issue, South Ossetia was supported by the American delegation, which noted that it was necessary to continue the work of the expert.
Other issues of a humanitarian nature were discussed in the second working group.
"The very important issue of the Geneva discussions - the question of refugees - was not discussed again this time due to the fact that the Georgian party continues to bring its politicized resolution to the rostrum of the UN General Assembly. Against the background of the fact that the UN does not represent the positions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, we believe that in Geneva it makes no sense to discuss this issue.
The issue is very important for South Ossetia, since more than 100 thousand Ossetians were expelled from Georgia, the problem of which has not been solved, therefore we are ready to discuss this problem at any international platform, where we will have an equal presence, "said Murat Dzhioev.
The Plenipotentiary has added that in this connection the delegations of South Ossetia and Abkhazia adopted a joint statement, which will be sent to the UN and other international organizations.
As for the development of the Georgian-Russian relations, they were not discussed, because Bilateral Georgian-Russian relations are not the subject of discussion at the Geneva talks.
