The successive 36th Round of International Discussions took place in Geneva. The First Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili chaired the Working Group on Humanitarian Issues.
Discussions were co-chaired by the representatives of European Union, United Nations and OSCE; representatives of Georgia, the Russian Federation and United States attended the discussions. The Head of Provisional Administration of Former South Ossetia Autonomous District and the Head of Government of Abkhazia Autonomous Republic, as well representatives of Tskhinvali and Sokhumi occupying regimes participated into the discussion.
Representatives of Russian Federation and occupying regime left the negotiation table amid the discussion on the issue of IDPs and refugees at Humanitarian Working Group. This underscores their non-constructive attitude towards the issue of human rights and humanitarian topics once again, and the overall principles of the discussions.
The Russian Federation tried to politicize the issue, in a context of the resolution on the status of IDPs and refugees by the UN General Assembly. It should be noted, that co-moderators, as well as representatives of the United States emphasized the need for the essential discussion on the return of IDPs.
The second working group dealt with difficult human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied territories. The problem of education into native language for the Georgian population in Abkhazia was a subject for lengthy discussions. The Georgian side stressed the need for effective measures for the solution of the problem before the new academic year.
“The return of IDPs was one of the main topics at the meeting. There was an effort of politicizing the issue and disregarding it from the list of subjects. However we stridently emphasized that Geneva format it created particularly to deal with the issue of IDPs and it is a part of the three main topics discussed. At the meeting we placed attention on the problems that deteriorate the daily lives of the people both within the occupied territories and its vicinity. The latest developments demonstrate the need for agreement on humanitarian principles once again, to ensure that the people have access to the freedom of movement and education into native language,” – the First Deputy State Minister declared after the meeting.
The Georgian side critically raised the issue of murder on 19 May in village Khurcha in both working groups. The Georgian side provided additional information on the case of murder and categorically demanded the immediate arrest of the criminal, supported by the Co-chairs and the rest of participants. Representatives of occupying regime had no profound information on the subject concerned. Participants expressed hope that the next IPRM meeting in Gali scheduled for 6 July will shed more light on the case of murder in Khurcha.
The Georgian side placed a particular attention in both working groups on the continued installation of barbed wires, so called “border” defining signs and other artificial barriers on the occupation line, that constitute to strong violation of fundamental rights of the local population. The cases of arrest and abduction of Georgian citizens with so called illegal “border crossing” charges was a subject to sharp discussion. Georgian participants demanded guarantees for free and safe movement across the occupation line – the need was again demonstrated by the murder committed by so called “borders” near the occupation line.
The next 37th round of International Discussions will take place on 4-5 October in Geneva.