Sixth Round of Geneva Talks

Negotiators from Georgia, Russia, United States, as well as from breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia will meet for the sixth round of talks in Geneva on July 1.

Talks, formally referred as “international discussions on security and stability”, are mediated by EU, OSCE and UN.

UN Secretary General’s spokesperson said on June 30 that although UN mission in Georgia ceased operations in Georgia, UN remained engaged in region and the Secretary General had asked his Special Representative, Johan Verbeke, to continue to represent UN at the ongoing Geneva discussions.

Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated on June 29 its long-standing insistence on the need of signing of non-use of force agreements between Tbilisi and Sokhumi, as well as between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali.

Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister, Giga Bokeria, who leads the Georgian delegation, however, said that such agreement could only be signed between Russia and Georgia and it should also envisage “de-occupation” of Georgia’s two breakaway regions. The agreement, Bokeria said, should also include “initial ideas” about deployment of international police force in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)