Undertaking by Russia Commitment not to Use Force to be Main Issue at Geneva Discussions - MFA

• Thursday, June 7, 17:52

tbilisi. Undertaking commitments not to use force by Russia will be the main issue at Geneva discussions, head of the Georgian delegation, deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Sergy Kapanadze stated in Tbilisi international airport before departure to Switzerland on Wednesday, June 6.        

The next, 20th round of Geneva discussions will be held in Geneva on June 7-8.

                According to Kapanadze, at the talks the Georgian party will raise again the issue of undertaking by Russia commitments not to use force and necessity of creation  of the security mechanism on the occupied territories.

"The Russian's party's aggressive rhetoric of the last time, increase of militarization of occupied  Georgian territories and military exercises "Caucasus-2012", planned for autumn, persuade us of necessity of Russia's analogous guarantees", Kapanadze said.

In opinion of the foreign political department of Georgia, exercises "Caucasus-2012" create a threat to stability not only in Georgia, but in the whole region.

                In December 2011, a high rank representative  of the Defence Ministry of RF stated at the meeting with military attaches, accredited in Moscow, that strategic command-staff military exercises 'Caucasus-2012" were planned for September 2012.

                Tbilisi has already termed the comprehensive military exercises of Russian army as provocative.

It should be noted that earlier, first deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia Nikoloz Vashakidze also noted that during the next round of Geneva talks the Georgian party would insist on undertaking commitment by Russia  not to use force.

According to Vashakidze, issues of IDPs return, human rights violation on the occupied territories and a problem of crossing the occupation line by local residents, would be also considered at the talks.

Vashakidze told that the Georgian party planned to pay attention of the co-chairmen to actions of Russian Federation, namely, to the fact that "according to the international law criteria, actions of RF are occupation and proceeding from it, all commitments, established by the international law, spread on Russia, as the occupation force".

Geneva discussions have been held since October 2008 on the basis of the agreements that were achieved with mediation of EU, UN and OSCE after the war in August 2008 in Georgia.