Georgian Reconciliation Minister Meets Co-Chairs of Geneva Talks
By Khatia Bzhalava
Friday, March 11, 2022
The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tea Akhvlediani, has met with the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Talks – Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Viorel Mosanu and UN Special Representative Jihan Sultanoglu. The Geneva International Discussions (GID) is a multilateral forum to address security and humanitarian consequences of the Russo-Georgian War of August 2008.
As the ministry reports, the sides discussed the difficult situation created as a result of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing hostilities, its impact on global and regional security, and the challenges facing Georgia.
The meeting focused on the dire humanitarian and legal situation of people affected by the ongoing Russian occupation of two of Georgia’s regions. Special attention was paid to intensifying joint efforts for the immediate and unconditional release of illegally detained Georgian citizens - Irakli Bebua, Mamuka Chikvaidze, Kakhaber Natadze, Valeri Kaniashvili, Zaza Megrelishvili, and Tamaz Gogichashvili.
As the ministry’s statement reads, the discussion also highlighted the need to make progress on the topics on the agenda of the Geneva International Talks, including the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees and other humanitarian issues.
The sides also discussed the progress of the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, which deals with incidents along the occupation line. The need for an unconditional resumption of the Gali (District in Abkhazia) was stressed as well.
The Geneva Co-Chairs reaffirmed their readiness to continue efforts for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Georgia.
