On July 26-27, Geneva hosted negotiations on security and stability in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, as well as security and the return of refugees.
The negotiations were held under the chairmanship of the UN, the EU and the OSCE.
Representatives from Georgia, USA and Russia were at the negotiations. The interim head of the South Ossetian administrative district, Dmitry Snakoyev, and the head of the autonomy of Abkhaz republic, Giorgi Baramiya, were at the meeting. Representatives from Tskhinvali and Sukhumi were also present.
The Georgian side urged Russia to observe the cease-fire agreement of August 12th, 2008 and start withdrawing forces from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The security regime should be maintained using international peacekeepers and police.
The co-chairs expressed hope that the authorities of Tskhinvali will renew participation in the negotiations on preventive measures against incidents in the nearest future after almost a year's absence, due to the boycott of Tskhinvali and Moscow.
At the meeting the co-chairs presented the new version of the non-use of force document and the implementation of the international security mechanism. Georgia approved the document. Moscow was against the document.
Georgia expressed concern that the authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia create obstacles for the free movement of the population. Special attention was paid to illegal arrests of people who accidentally cross the border.
Participants of the talks considered the document proposed by the co-chairs.The sides failed to reach an agreement. The participants decided to hold the 13th round of Geneva negotiations on October 14th.
