Foreign minister Zalkaliani meets with UN Secretary-General Gutierrez
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Wednesday, February 26
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The meeting was held on February 24 in Geneva within the 43rd session of the UN High Commission for Human Rights.
The meeting with the UN Secretary-General discussed the situation in the occupied regions of Georgia and the UN's involvement in the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports special attention was paid to the occupied territories of the difficult humanitarian situation and the occupation regime steps, making life difficult for the local population.
Discrimination against ethnic Georgians, in particular, the restriction of education in their native language was discussed at the meeting. The closure of crossings, the abduction of people and the need to bring about justice. They emphasized the need to keep these topics, and the Russian-Georgian conflict in general, at the highest level on the UN agenda.
Zalkaniani said the sides talked about the difficult situation that has arisen in connection with the closure of the so-called crossing point in Akhalgori. He says it has been emphasized that it is inadmissible for people to not have access to education and first aid. Problems with food supply in the Tskhinvali region have also been discussed.
Special emphasis was put on the UN's role in the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the effective conduct of the Geneva International Discussions. They discussed the next round of talks, including the need to consider ways of resolving the problem of moving the conflict region and the occupants along the occupation line.
The sides also welcomed the practice of annual UN resolutions on Georgia within the UN and the report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation in the occupied regions of Georgia.
The UN Secretary-General expressed his readiness for the organization to play an effective role within its mandate in addressing specific issues.
During his visit to Geneva, on February 25, Zalkaliani met with UN High commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi.
As the High Commissioner noted, he received information from the Georgian Foreign Minister on the current situation in the country. “Unfortunately, these conflicts are still unresolved and the humanitarian issues caused by this conflict affect the displaced population and civil society,” he stated after the meeting. According to him, the UN High Commissioner has only a humanitarian role in the process and they will continue to do their part to alleviate the difficult situation that is affecting the lives of the population.
