18th Round of negotiations on Caucasus to start in Geneva

Next, the 18th round of discussions on security in the Caucasus will be held in Geneva on Dec. 14. A Georgian delegation headed by the Deputy Foreign Minister Sergi Kapanadze is already there.

The negotiations in Geneva format on prevention of tension in the Caucasus will be held with the participation of Russia, Georgia, representatives of separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as the U.S., UN, EU and OSCE.

As Kapanadze told journalists in Strasbourg, the Georgian side during the next meeting will demand Russia to fulfill an agreement on the nonuse of force.

The Russian side also demands concluding agreement with Tbilisi, on the one hand, and Sukhumi and Tskhinvali, on the other.

The Georgian side also intends to raise the issue regarding human rights in the occupied territories.

Geneva talks were convened after armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008 in compliance with ceasefire agreement dated Aug.12.