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Russia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia fail to agree on moving Geneva talks — Russian MFA

Since 2008, international discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus have been held in Geneva, with the participation of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the United States, and South Ossetia, mediated by special representatives from the UN, the EU, and the OSCE

MOSCOW, December 27. /TASS/. Russia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, which have once again raised the issue of relocating the regular International Geneva Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus from Switzerland to another country, have failed to reach a consensus on the venue, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia.

"Moscow, Sukhum, and Tskhinval are actively considering relocating the rounds of the International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus from Geneva. However, the necessary consensus among all participants has not yet been achieved," the ministry stated.

"In this regard, we consider it premature to talk about another negotiations site and possible timing of the ‘move.’ It is important to understand the criteria for selecting a new venue for the talks," the ministry added. "First of all, the matter concerns impartiality, i.e. the ability of the host authorities to refrain from any measures detrimental to the interests of any of the participants," the diplomatic ministry concluded.

Since 2008, international discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus have been held in Geneva, with the participation of Abkhazia, Georgia, Russia, the United States, and South Ossetia, mediated by special representatives from the UN, the EU, and the OSCE. These discussions are traditionally divided into two working groups: one focused on security and the other on humanitarian issues. The Geneva discussions remain the sole platform for dialogue between Sukhum, Tbilisi, and Tskhinval.

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