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Meeting with co-chairs of Geneva discussions no longer feasible — MFA

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the co-chairs of the Geneva Discussions made the decision to postpone them without consulting with the delegations and, therefore, abused their status

MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. Russia no longer considers it will be expedient to hold a meeting scheduled for February 3 in Moscow with the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in commentary on Tuesday in connection with another cancellation of a round of the Geneva International Discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus.

Zakharova noted Russia had received a notification from the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions to the effect the next 57th round, scheduled for February 21-22 had been canceled and postponed until April 4-5.

"Taking into account the aforesaid, the Russian side has found it inappropriate to hold a meeting in Moscow with the co-chairs, which was originally scheduled for February 3. Travels by international officials cannot and should not substitute for full-fledged GID activities. We expect that our signals will be heard in Brussels, Vienna and New York," the diplomat said.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman, the co-chairs of the Geneva Discussions made the decision to postpone them without consulting with the delegations and, therefore, abused their status.

"We view this decision, once again made by the co-chairs in private and without prior consultations with all delegations, as the continuation of the West’s destructive policy of blocking the GID," she said. "Obviously, the ‘trio’ is abusing its status, and sacrifices security and stability in Trans-Caucasus to their timeserving interests."

"We consider this approach to be unacceptable and in conflict with interests of the majority of GID participants, who want to continue joint rhythmic work," the spokeswoman added. "Abkhazian and South Ossetian allies share Russia’s views in full."

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry of Abkhazia prohibited entry to its territory for co-chairs of the Geneva Discussions, due to cancellation of a regular round of consultations scheduled for early February. The co-chairs planned to visit Abkhazia on February 8-9 and hold a number of meetings.

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Foreign policy Maria Zakharova

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