Some aspects of the work of the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia were touched upon during the speech of James Gilmore, the US Ambassador to the OSCE at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on November 12 this year. 

It should be noted that earlier Mr. J. Gilmore had already noted his defiant interview, in which he allowed himself a number of unacceptable attacks on the Republic of Abkhazia, accompanying them with rather strange historical excursions.

In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Abkhazia has already given appropriate explanations for the distinguished Ambassador. In particular, the political and legal grounds for the independence of Abkhazia were indicated, the reasons for the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict were explained, explanations were given on the interstate relations of the Republic of Abkhazia with the Russian Federation, which are built on a legal basis and are of an allied nature.

This time, the US Ambassador to the OSCE has taken up the analysis of the Geneva International Discussions, which, in his opinion, are very useful and necessary. At the same time, J. Gilmore for some reason especially focuses his attention on the round of the Geneva discussions that did not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic, which, he believes, was deliberately disrupted by the Russian side. Meanwhile, as the Foreign Ministry of Abkhazia has already noted, the postponement of the round was directly related to the threat of the spread of the disease. One should not look for any other reasons here. All parties involved are interested in the work of the Geneva Discussions. It's time to realize this already and stop speculating on this topic.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the attempt to shift the emphasis and avoid the discussion of the key themes of the Geneva discussions, which manifested itself in J. Gilmore's speech. Thus, he is silent on such an important aspect of the agenda of the Geneva discussions as the search for ways to ensure lasting security for Abkhazia and South Ossetia by concluding a legally binding document on the non-use of force between the parties.

Instead, Gilmore makes far-fetched claims against Russia, which for some reason acts as a "party to the conflict" and not as a mediator, and interprets the agreements agreed upon by the Presidents of Russia and France on August 12, 2008, rather arbitrarily.

We doubt that the thoughts voiced by the US Ambassador to the OSCE can serve as an incentive for fruitful work in the framework of the Geneva Discussions. Rather, they will become a barrier preventing the rapprochement of the parties' positions.

We reiterate the unacceptability of discussing issues related to the Republic of Abkhazia at various international platforms, including the OSCE, in the absence of representatives of our country. The result of this approach is distorted ideas on what is happening in the region, which are regularly broadcast by the Georgian side and its Western partners to the international audience.

The Republic of Abkhazia stands for the continuation of the Geneva International Discussions. We regard the work of the Geneva format as an important mechanism for maintaining security and stability in the South Caucasus. We look forward to further fruitful work to find a mutually acceptable result.