Abkhazia to take part in the 17th round of Geneva talks

Abkhazia will take part in the 17th round of Geneva talks on security and stability in the Caucasus, scheduled on October 4, and set out its position on the issue concerning the refugees return. This was stated by Maxim Gvindjiya, Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, following the results of the meeting of Geneva talks Co-chairpersons with representatives of Abkhazia.

Talks on the issues of security and stability in Transcaucasia are held for over two years and based on agreements of Presidents of Russia and France, which were reached after the Russian-Georgian war in August of 2008. The talks involve representatives of South Ossetia, Russia, Abkhazia, the United States, Georgia, the EU, the OSCE and the United Nations. To the current day, 16 rounds of the talks have been held.

On June 29 the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution "On the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia, and South Ossetia, Georgia". The document has been considered within the discussion of the issue "Protracted conflicts in the GUAM area and their consequences for international peace, security and development". The resolution was supported by 57 states. 13 argued against it and 74 – abstained.

"We consider this resolution as Georgia's sabotage of the Geneva talks. And we are disappointed with the attitude of the Western countries which supported the resolution," Chirikba said.

When this resolution was adopted, South Ossetia decided to withdraw from the negotiation process on refugees, held within the Geneva talks.