22 March 2019, 08:33
Georgian opposition criticizes idea of revising the format of Geneva discussions
President Salome Zurabishvili's proposal to create an additional format of dialogue with Russia due to inefficiency of Geneva discussions is contrary to Georgia's interests, the country's opposition has stated.
After in 2008 Russia recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and the Georgian Parliament voted to break diplomatic relations with Russia, Switzerland is acting as a mediator in Georgian-Russian negotiations.
On March 19, Khatiya Moistsrapishvili, the press speaker of the President of Georgia, voiced out, on air of the "Rustavi-2" TV Company, a proposal to consider the creation of a new format of dialogue with Russia.
Opposition MPs have criticized the idea. "This statement may cause a revision of the 2008 ceasefire agreement and international negotiations on security mechanisms," said Salome Samadashvili, an MP from the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party.
The Geneva discussions are inefficient, but they cannot be stopped, as there is no better format yet, political analysts Mamuka Areshidze and Zurab Bendianishvili said earlier this January.
"At this stage, the format of the Geneva talks is the only mechanism for Georgia that meets the state interests," said Mamuka Zhgenti, an expert at the NGO "Georgian Institute of European Values".
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 21, 2019 at 06:53 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
