Georgian Foreign Ministry issues statement on 63rd round of Geneva International Discussions

The Georgian Foreign Ministry on Thursday issued a statement regarding the 63rd round of the Geneva International Discussions, held between Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Ministry noted that the Georgian delegation had emphasised key issues on the agenda, including the necessity for Russia to fully comply with its obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement and the right of internally displaced persons and refugees from the occupied territories to return home with dignity.

“The 63rd round of the Geneva International Discussions took place between March 4 and 5 with the Georgian delegation led by Lasha Darsalia, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. During the discussions, the Georgian delegation focused on the key issues on the agenda of the Geneva International Discussions, such as the need for Russia to fully implement its international obligations under the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement brokered by the European Union, and the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees from the occupied territories to their homes”, the statement said.

The delegation further stressed the need for the unconditional resumption of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Gali and for regular meetings in both Gali and Ergneti in accordance with fundamental principles.

The Georgian delegation expressed serious concern over the dire security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in the Russian-occupied regions, the ongoing illegal militarisation, and Russia’s construction of an illegal naval base in Ochamchire and the reopening of the Sokhumi Airport.

The Georgian side also condemned the so-called “presidential elections” held in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia region and the meeting between the leader of the occupation regime and the Russian President, which represented another step toward annexation and a blatant violation of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

As in previous instances, representatives of Russia and the occupation regimes walked away from the negotiating table when the discussion turned to one of the most critical issues - the return of IDPs and refugees to their homes.

The Geneva International Discussions were established following the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008. Their main focus is on the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees, and the security and humanitarian challenges caused by Russia’s occupation.