11:18, 28 June 2013

Lortkipanidze: disruption of Geneva discussions was caused by attempt of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to change format

Checkpoint at Abkhazia and South Ossetia border in Nabakia village, May 15, 2013. Photo by Angela Kuchuberia for the “Caucasian Knot”.

In the course of the talks in Geneva on security in Southern Caucasus, delegates of the conflict regions made an attempt to leave one working group and continue working in another one. The co-chairs banned the precedent and stopped the security working group, said the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, explaining the disruption of the talks.

Let us remind you that on June 25-26 Geneva hosted another round of international discussions on security and stability in Southern Caucasus. It was assumed that the priority would be given to security in border areas and ensuring the normal life of the local population on both sides of the border. Representatives of Russia and South Ossetia stated a disruption of the talks and accused the Georgian delegation. However, the parties agreed to hold the next round on October 16.

Moscow believes the Geneva discussions extremely important for maintaining stability in the region; however, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has assessed their prospects as "vague."

Author: Inna Kukudzhanova

Source: CK correspondent