Next round of Geneva talks expected to mull free movement in conflict zones
By Sabina Idayatova
A Georgian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani left on Monday for Switzerland to attend the next, 23rd round of the Geneva negotiation process on security in the Caucasus on March 26-27.
Along with representatives of Georgia and its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, those of Russia, the U.S., UN, OSCE and EU will participate at the talks.
The focal point of the talks will be stabilization of the situation in the region and guarantees of non-use of force, as well as improvement of the humanitarian and socio-economic situation.
The Georgian side will raise questions at the meeting on free movement of both sides of the conflict, a senior Georgian official has said.
Russia and Georgia have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the breakaway regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008 and broke off relations with Moscow.
The Geneva talks were convened after the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008 in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of August 12.
Format of talks
Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Jalagania believes the talk over changing the Geneva negotiations' format and a further change in some components is unnecessary and unfounded.
"We as always strive to ensure that this dialogue is specific, results-oriented," Jalagania said at a news conference on Monday. He voiced hope that the Georgian delegation would bring back a particular result.
Earlier, Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili did not rule out a change in the format of the Geneva talks.
According to Zakareishvili, changing the format primarily requires the Abkhaz and South Ossetian sides to acquire a status.
"We have some questions about the format of the Geneva talks," Zakareishvili said. "We see that the results do not suit either the Georgian side or the participants."
Zakareishvili said the new government does not say a definitive "no."
"We are looking for a way to say 'yes'. And that 'yes' has to be said for the interests of Georgia," Zakareishvili said.