24th meeting of Geneva International Discussions focused on freedom of movement, missing persons and water provision

GENEVA, 27-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Addressing the negative impact of fencing activities along the Administrative Boundary Line was the main topic which dominated the deliberations of the 24th meeting of the Geneva International Discussions today co-chaired by the OSCE Chair’s Special Representative for conflicts, Ambassador Andrii Deshchytsia.

The Geneva International Discussions address the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia; other co-chairs are the EU Special Representative, Philippe Lefort, and the UN Representative, Antti Turunen.

Deshchytsia recalled that during the recent visit to Georgia by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office a number of issues were discussed focusing on the OSCE agenda with particular attention to the Geneva process. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister Leonid Kozhara expressed concern over the process of erecting fences along the Administrative Boundary Line, which creates serious obstacles for the freedom of movement of the local population.

Deshchytsia welcomed a commitment on behalf of all concerned to address the issue of missing persons. He referred to a meeting between Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor and the families of three missing South Ossetians, whose cases had been reopened. The meeting took place on 30 May and was facilitated by the OSCE Chairmanship.

The Special Representative welcomed the fact the OSCE-implemented and EU-funded water project in Zonkari was nearly completed, with the gates of the Zonkari Dam fully functioning, and stressed the need to appoint a responsible operator on the South Ossetian side to manage and maintain the site.

The participants agreed to hold the next round of the Geneva International Discussions on 15-16 October.

Contacts

Frane Maroevic
Deputy Spokesperson
Press and Public Information Section
OSCE Secretariat
Office: +43 1 514 36 6150
Mobile: +43 664 8847 4908
Fax: +43 1 514 36 6105
frane.maroevic@osce.org

Vasyl Zvarych
Deputy Director for Information Policy
Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1 Mykhailivska sq.
01018 Kyiv
Ukraine
Phone: +38044 238 1575
v.zvarych@mfa.gov.ua

The Zonkari dam stores 40 million cubic meters of water for irrigation purposes. At the Geneva International Discussions on 26 June 2013, the OSCE Chair Special Representative welcomed the fact that the water project in Zonkari was nearly completed. (OSCE/Emmanuel Anquetil)