International talks on the situation of Georgia started Wednesday under the auspices of UN and European mediators, but difficulties are yet to be overcome before a comprehensive resolution of the crisis can be found.
The most sticking point before Nov. 18, the agreed date for the resumption of the meeting, remains in what format representatives from Georgia's two breakaway regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- should be allowed to participate in the discussions.
It was just because of this so-called "procedural snag" that Wednesday's meeting ended earlier than scheduled and practical issues such as the return of refugees and the security and stability of the Caucasus region were not touched at all.
In a sign of strong distrust between Russia and Georgia, the two delegations even refused to meet each other in the same room.
Russia had insisted that South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which it recognized as independent after a brief war with Georgia in August, must be represented equally at the meeting, and otherwise the discussions would be "pointless."
But Georgia strongly opposed that, considering the two regions as its inseparable territories.
UN and European organizers of the meeting clearly had the sensitivity of the issue in mind, and until the last moment they refused to tell whether representatives from South Ossetia and Abkhazia were in Geneva and in what form they would be allowed to participate.
Before the meeting started, the organizers even proclaimed that the meeting, planned according to a ceasefire agreement, had been downgraded from ministerial level to expert or technical level.
But in the end Russia and Georgia were still represented by deputy foreign ministers. A U.S. delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried was also present at the meeting as a full participant.
Wednesday's meeting was held behind closed doors in Geneva's UN European headquarters.
With all the cautious arrangements, the meeting still broke down because the South Ossetia and Abkhazia delegations "walked out" of the meeting room, complaining that they were not treated as "national delegations," the U.S. delegation later said.
Despite the setback, UN and European officials said Wednesday's meeting was a positive start, and they expressed hope that the process would continue.
"It is important that the discussions on the Caucasus began and that the sides could determine the date of the new meeting," said Pierre Morel, the European Union's special representative for the Georgia issue.
"All representatives did take the floor, and all acted and spoke in a responsible way," said Johan Verbeke, special envoy for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"The process is on track," Verbeke told reporters.
Head of the U.S. delegation Fried expressed regret that the Russian and Georgian delegations did not meet face-to-face in the talks.
But he said both sides actually "exhibited a practical and constructive spirit" in the meeting.
"It was clear that both were looking for ways to move forward and resolve problems rather than create them," Fried told journalists after the meeting.
Fried said whether the Geneva meeting could be resumed next month partly depends on the capability of the European mediators, in which he said he had confidence.
The practical and constructive attitude of parties is also necessary, he added.
Fried suggested that Russia should exert influence on its friends in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, so that the next meeting could overcome the so-called "procedural difficulties" and tackle practical problems.
(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)
