Georgian-South Ossetian Peace Talks Resume In Ljubljana
16 November 2005 -- The Joint Control Commission in charge of implementing the 1992 Georgian-South Ossetian cease-fire is meeting in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana for the second consecutive day today.
The talks are taking place under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Participants are expected to examine ways to further demilitarize the conflict zone. They should also discuss a Georgian proposal to include the OSCE and Western governments into the peace talks.
Yesterday, South Ossetia's chief negotiator, Boris Chochiyev, blamed Georgia for increasing tensions in the conflict zone and thwarting planned talks between South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli.
"The Kokoity-Noghaideli meeting has been more than once on the agenda," Chochiyev said. "It has been discussed more than once and no one was against the idea, including our president. However, we have the impression that the Georgian side is not fully interested in having such a meeting."
Georgia's Conflict Resolution Minister Giorgi Khaindrava rejected Chochiyev's accusations.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burjanadze is expected to present Tbilisi's latest peace plan at a CIS parliamentary summit in Saint Petersburg on Thursday.
Georgia accuses Russia of arming South Ossetia and has called upon the OSCE, the European Union and the United States to join the peace talks.
(from Georgian television and media reports)