Security in Caucasus to be discussed in Geneva

The Geneva discussions are now entering an eight phase whose purpose is to focus on issue of security in Caucasus. The talks involve details of agreements on nonuse of force between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali and between Tbilisi and Sukhumi. It is expected that Georgian delegation will voice item of release of four Georgian teenagers detained in South Osetia. The detained teens are Aleko Sabadze, Victor Buchukuri, George Romelashvili and Levan Khmiadashvili, who on November 4 stepped out of the Georgian-controlled territories and were detained in Tskhinvali. Officials of South Osetia said that teens had got 4 grenades as well as explosives.

The Geneva discussions are held in the framework of the Sarkozy-Medvedev Plan signed on October 12 2008 that had ended the five-day war in Georgia. During a previous round of consultations the parties have not reached consensus on some issues.

Meanwhile today’s consultations mark new format of participants involving representatives of Georgia, Abkhazia, South Osetia, Russia, EU, UN, OSCE, and U.S. At the same time, these talks are held immediately after released report of international experts and analysts who were studying last year’s armed conflict.