At Geneva debates, South-Ossetian delegation raises issue of mass burials of Ossetians in Georgia

At the 20^th round of Geneva debates on security in the Caucasus, the South-Ossetian delegation raised the issue of revitalization of searches for the citizens of their republic, who went missing in 1989-1992 and 2008. Members of the delegation said that reports are available on existence in Georgian of mass burials of assassinated Ossetians.

The 20^th round of Geneva debates was held on June 7-8. The debates began after the 2008 war in South Ossetia.

At the debates, representatives of Abkhazia and South Ossetia made a joint statement, claiming the illegality (in particular, in terms of the norms and principles of the international law) of using the terms "occupation" and "occupied territories" in their relation.

"Neither independent international experts, nor the Georgian party could bring any legal arguments in support of the myth of the so-called 'occupation'. The only aim of the stay of Russian militaries in South Ossetia is to safeguard the country against another Georgia's aggression," said a source from the office of the South-Ossetian presidential envoy for the settlement matters.

It was noted that the number of violations of the border went down essentially; however, intrusions into the airspace of South Ossetia continue. With regard to the category of citizens who cross the South-Ossetian-Georgian border, they are persuaded to get the so-called "neutral passport", which, according to the South-Ossetian delegation, is causing some tension.

The delegation of South Ossetia once again raised the issue to reactivate the searches for the citizens of South Ossetia, who disappeared in 1989-1992 and 2008, stated that there were reports about the existence in Georgia of mass burials of killed Ossetians, and demanded to study these reports within the existing formats.

According to the Georgian party, the consultations within the framework of the Geneva international talks were fruitless. The reporters were told about it by Sergi Kapanadze, the head of the Georgian delegation and Deputy Foreign Minister. According to his version, "the non-constructive position of Moscow and representatives of the puppet regimes" had not allowed to find common approaches, the portal "News.ge" reports.

The next round of Geneva debates is planned for October 2012.