Preparatory meeting for 64th round of Geneva International Discussions held at Georgian foreign office

Preparatory meeting for 64th round of Geneva International Discussions held at Georgian foreign office

A preparatory meeting for the 64th round of the Geneva International Discussions was held on Monday in Tbilisi.

The meeting was attended by the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions representing the European Union, the United Nations, and the OSCE. The Georgian delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of the Georgian delegation to the GID, Lasha Darsalia.

The meetings underscored the importance of the effective functioning of the Geneva International Discussions, the next round of which is scheduled for June 25-26.

Discussions focused on the core agenda of the Geneva format, including the implementation of international obligations under the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement brokered by the EU, and the need for progress on the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees.

The parties also stressed the need to resume, without preconditions, the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism in Gali, and to ensure the regular and principled operation of the IPRM in both Gali and Ergneti.

The Georgian side further highlighted the difficult security, humanitarian, and human rights situation on the ground, and drew attention to the ongoing destructive and illegal actions carried out by Russia and its occupation regimes.

Concerns were raised over Russia’s attempts to hinder confidence-building efforts, including the simplification of the Russian citizenship process for residents of the Russian occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region.

The Georgian side also reiterated its concern over the illegal operation of an airport in the occupied Abkhazia region and the launch of regular flights, as well as plans to establish railway connections and direct electric train routes in violation of international law.