47th Round of Geneva International Discussions Ends without Outcomes
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, April 5
The 47th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), which is the only format of an international dialogue between Georgia and Russia, has ended without any significant outcomes on April 3.
Along with the usual topics raised during the talks, Georgian side brought up the case of Irakli Kvaratskhelia, a 29-year-old Georgian citizen, who died in unclear circumstances in the military base of the occupied region of Georgia-Abkhazia in early March.
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) says illegal annexation and occupation of Georgian territories by Russia brought tough consequences for the local population, living in the occupied regions.
The ministry added they outlined consequences of abduction and installation of wire fences and various artificial barriers on occupation line, illegal arrests of locals and restriction of getting an education in the native language.
Tbilisi stressed that as usual participants from Moscow, occupied Sokhumi and Tskhinvali demonstrated the traditional destructiveness and left the negotiating room while discussing the issues on the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees to their homes in the occupied regions.
MFA also says the Georgian side stressed that Russia exercises power in breakaway regions and is to be held responsible for the gross violation of human rights there.
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia who represented official Tbilisi during the two-day meetings said Russia prefers the language of pressure and threats.
“Unfortunately, on the tenth anniversary [of the Russia-Georgia war] Russia still does not fulfill its obligations,” he stated.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin noted the investigation into the death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia should be completed in order to start a dialogue.
"The investigation has not been completed. As far as I know, it has not finished in Georgia either. Our position is that a dialogue should be launched only after the end of the investigation. It prevents dialogue and many elements of mutual cooperation between Tbilisi, Tskhinvali, and Sokhumi,” he said.
Russian envoy also stressed that “increased NATO's military activity creates tensions in Georgia and the Caucasus.”
GID is held four times a year with Co-Chairmanship of the EU, UN, and OSCE, and with the participation of Georgia, the Russian Federation and the USA. The representatives of Georgia’s breakaway regions – South Ossetia and Abkhazia occupation regimes also attend the Working Groups.
The participants agreed to hold the next GID round on 2-3 July 2019.
