VLADIKAVKAZ. Nov 19 (Interfax-AVN) - The four-party Joint Control Commission for resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict on Friday opened its meeting in Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Russian internal republic of North Ossetia.
There are three issues on the meeting's agenda, Georgian Minister of State Giorgi Khaindrava, the Georgian co-chairman of the commission, told reporters.
"First, the conflict zone and its boundaries must be defined. Second, the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone must be demilitarized. Third, numerous economic projects for which the OSCE, the European Union and other international organizations have appropriated 2.5 million euros must be implemented," he said.
Asked about the Georgian view of the situation in Pankisi Gorge, Khaindrava said: "There are no militants in the gorge, nor are their bases there."
"Today we must resolve issues in implementing the Sochi agreements, following which the Georgian and South Ossetian presidents will be able to discuss further cooperation," South Ossetian co-chairman of the commission Boris Chochiyev told reporters before the start of the meeting.
South Ossetia is technically a province of Georgia, but won de facto independence in early 1990s. The two sides are engaged in a state of conflict which has led to numerous incidents in recent months.