Konstantin Kochiev: The calls of foreign actors to Georgia to use the current moment to achieve strong strategic goals did not go unnoticed

“There is no alternative to the Geneva talks as a negotiating platform for direct dialogue between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali,” the head of the so-called delegation of occupied Tskhinvali region to the Geneva talks, Konstantin Kochiev, said in Tskhinvali, where he met with co-chairs from the OSCE, the UN and the European Union.

He said that progress in developing a document on non-use of force within the Geneva talks would be important for strengthening stability and security in the region.

"Strengthening security is a key goal of the Geneva talks. The calls of foreign actors to Georgia to use the current moment to achieve strong strategic goals, as well as the active development of Georgian military cooperation with foreign partners, did not go unnoticed, which increases security risks in the Caucasus," Kochiev said.

According to him, despite the above, there has been some "restraint and prudence" on the part of Georgia in recent months, which "gives grounds for some optimism in terms of drafting an agreement on non-use of force."