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Moscow to seek binding guarantees on non-use of force at Geneva talks on Transcaucasia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Georgia would want to turn the document on non-use of force into an anti-Russian venture

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) and his Abkhazian counterpart Vyacheslav Chirikba Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) and his Abkhazian counterpart Vyacheslav Chirikba

© Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS

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MOSCOW, March 11. /TASS/. Russia will seek legally binding guarantees on non-use of force at talks on Transcaucasia in Geneva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday after talks with his Abkhazian counterpart Vyacheslav Chirikba.

Lavrov stressed that Moscow considers Geneva discussions on security a very useful format.

Discussions in Geneva focus on security, as well as humanitarian issues - refugees, displaced persons. "Talking about security, we have long been calling for adopting a document on non-use of force," Lavrov said. "Our Georgian partners would want to turn this document into an anti-Russian venture. European, UN and other mediators seem to understand that speculations should not be made on this issue, but it’s not working yet," he added.

"We consider it [Geneva discussions] to be a very helpful format. As it was being shaped, some positive changes occurred," Lavrov said. "It is a format where the direct participants in the process - Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia - can talk directly," he added.

"Talking about humanitarian issues, Georgia has unfortunately decided - and we have repeatedly voiced our concerns about it - not to consider concrete problems of humanitarian situation of people who were forced out of their homes, but instead to unwind this topic in the political line through UN General Assembly," Lavrov said.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov Russian Foreign Ministry Abkhazia South Ossetia

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