Press Communiqué of Co-Chairs of Geneva International Discussions

GENEVA, Switzerland, 5 October 2016 - The thirty-seventh round of the Geneva International Discussions has just ended.

In Working Group I dealing with security issues, the participants reviewed and discussed the situation on the ground since the last round held in June 2016. They assessed it as relatively calm and stable. The Co-­Chairs and the participants expressed satisfaction with the meetings held in the framework of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Ergneti and Gali. All participants praised the constructive cooperation registered in this format as an essential contribution to the stabilization of the situation on the ground. Among other cases, participants exchanged updates on the latest developments around the fatal incident that occurred in Khurcha on 19 May 2016. In this regard, the Co-Chairs reiterated their call for the detention and prosecution of the perpetrator. The participants also engaged in exchanging views on non-use of force and other elements relating to security on the ground.

In Working Group II, the participants reviewed the overall humanitarian situation and discussed several issues relating to documentation, crossings, language of instruction in the context of the start of the new school year, missing persons and cultural heritage. In particular, participants agreed to conduct further work on cases of missing persons. On issues related to refugees and IDPs, the participants continued to express sharply diverging views on ways and means to address them. As a result of walkouts by some participants, the discussions in Working Group II could not be completed. The Co‐Moderators expressed regret at this outcome and reiterated their call on all participants to engage constructively on all issues on the agenda in this forum.

The participants agreed to hold the next round on 13­‐14 December 2016.