Georgian delegation disrupts work on statement on non-use of force in Transcaucasia - Tskhival
TSKHINVAL. Dec 15 (Interfax) - Georgia has thwarted the work on a document on non-use of force at the international discussions on Transcaucasia, which were held in Geneva on December 13-14, the South Ossetian delegation said in a final statement.
"Special attention at this round was given to the discussion on the issues of ensuring security and stability in the region and non-use of force by Georgia against South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It was planned to complete the work on the co-chairs-offered version of the draft document on adherence to the principle of non-use of force, which would become an intermediate step in drafting legally binding agreements on non-use of force with firm international guarantees," the statement said.
However, the completion of the work on the draft was foiled by a destructive line of the Georgian delegation, which insisted on unacceptable wordings, South Ossetian diplomats said.
Besides, South Ossetian representatives have voiced concerns at the talks in connection with the expansion of NATO's presence in Georgia and their joint military drills.
The South Ossetian side called destructive and tendentious the Georgian Foreign Ministry-published quarterly report on the human rights situation "on the occupied territories", as well as the statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Georgia, which urges Russia to revoke the recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia, peaceful settlement of "the conflict in Georgia," withdrawal of armed detachments from "the occupied territories" and the resumption of "the full-fledged OSCE mission's" presence in Georgia.
Representatives of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the United States and South Ossetia with the UN, OSCE and the EU as co-chairs participated in the discussions. South Ossetian Foreign Minister Murat Dzhioyev headed the South Ossetian delegation. The Geneva discussions' next meeting is scheduled to be held in March 2017.