EU’s South Caucasus Representative highlights “vital” significance of Geneva International Discussions
In his remarks ahead of today’s round of talks within the format, Klaar called the platform “significant” for its role in bringing together all sides of the conflicts on the territory of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions. Photo: Reuters
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Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, on Wednesday said the Geneva International Discussions, a platform facilitating talks between the Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the country’s Russian-occupied regions, was “vital” for security and stability.
In his remarks ahead of today’s round of talks within the format, Klaar called the platform “significant” for its role in bringing together all sides of the conflicts on the territory of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.
This is the only format that brings around the table Georgia, Russia, the United States, also the Abkhazians and the Ossetians, and it is co-chaired by the EU, United Nations and the OSCE. So you have a very large representation of the international community participating in this format - that I believe is already a value in itself”, Klaar said.
He also added “I sense that [the format] is perceived as being crucial by all participants for security and stability”.
I believe that it is important to keep this format going. Of course, the external, international security situation is very difficult, but also, particularly for this region, it is important to keep such formats going because it will be very difficult to restart them if they were totally broken”, he concluded.
The Geneva International Discussions were launched in October 2008, following the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in August of that year, and are co-chaired by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Union, and the United Nations.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said “all responsibility” for Georgia’s occupied territories rested with Russia, and noted the stance was “not only a political statement, but also a legally proven fact”.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia on Tuesday said deoccupation of the country’s Russian-occupied regions, withdrawal of the occupation troops to the pre-2008 war lines and return of internally displaced persons would be in focus of tomorrow’s latest round of the Geneva International Discussions.
Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the external affairs of the European Union, on Wednesday said the bloc remained committed to its “active involvement” in the Geneva International Discussions as a Co-Chair of the talks.
Georgian deputy foreign minister Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said the 56th round of the Geneva International Discussions would focus on the need to fulfil the obligations undertaken by Russia under the 2008 ceasefire agreement that ended the conflict between the two countries.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lasha Darsalia on Wednesday said during today’s round of the Geneva International Discussions “Russia saw plainly that Georgia is not alone and enjoys the strong support of its partners”.
Participants in the 57th round of the Geneva International Discussions - a platform facilitating talks between the Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the country’s Russian-occupied regions - on Wednesday reviewed security and humanitarian developments in the localities.
Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia who also co-chairs the Geneva International Discussions on conflicts on the territory of the country, on Wednesday highlighted the importance of the platform amid Moscow’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The current situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories and near the occupation line, as well as security challenges in the country and the “borderisation” process in Georgian villages adjacent to the ABL, was discussed on Wednesday by Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the Georgian State Security Service and Toivo Klaar, the European Union's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in the country.