U.S. Participation in the Geneva International Discussions on the Conflict in Georgia
Press Statement by the U.S. Delegation
At the thirty-seventh round of the Geneva International Discussions on the conflict in Georgia October 4-5, the United States welcomed the regular meetings of the Gali Incident Prevention Response Mechanism following its resumption in May. This is an important mechanism to defuse tensions on the ground.
The United States called on the de facto authorities in Abkhazia to detain and bring to justice the perpetrator of the fatal shooting of a Georgian civilian along the Abkhazia Administrative Boundary Line on May 19. We encourage participants to use the next meeting of the Gali Incident Prevention Response Mechanism to exchange information on the status of the investigation.
Although participants held useful discussions for most of the round, the United States regrets that the two working groups were not able to complete discussion of their agendas, including a discussion of internally displaced persons. The United States urges participants to engage on all issues related to the conflict and to use the next round to take steps forward on security and humanitarian issues.
Together with Georgia, Russia, and representatives of the de facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the United States participates in the Geneva International Discussions, which are co-chaired by the EU, UN, and OSCE, and began in 2008 to address the consequences of the conflict in Georgia.
The United States fully supports Georgia’s territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.