Geneva Discussions Co-Chairs Focus on the Upcoming Round of Talks - MFA

• Wednesday, February 22, 03:36

Tbilisi. Co-chairs of Geneva security talks (UN, EU, OSCE) visited Georgia last week. During the visit they discussed the upcoming round of talks scheduled for end of March - Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, Nino Kalandadze, briefed journalists on Monday, February 20.

According to the early information, the first round of Geneva security discussions this year will be held in Geneva, March 28-29. Previous round of discussions was held in December 2011.

"This was a very important visit. It aimed to prepare the upcoming round of talks and agree on the issues to be discussed with all participants in discussions. The Georgian side briefed them on what it expected from the next round of talks," Kalandadze stated.

                Besides, the Co-chairs of Geneva discussions visited Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region.

"The Co-chairs also visited the occupied regions of Georgia to familiarize with security situation on the ground," Kalandadze pointed out.

                In Georgian deputy FM's words, the Co-chairs also familiarized with the Georgian government's strategy with regard to the occupied regions.

Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus were first convened following the August war 2008.

On August 26, 2008, Russia unilaterally recognized the sovereignty of two Georgian autonomies. Tbilisi, in turn, broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and declared the conflict zones the occupied territories. USA and Western states also do not recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tskhinvali region) and reiterate their support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia, demanding from Russia to with withdraw its troops from those territories.