Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava said on February 17 after talks with the Russian Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow that the Russian side indicated it is against of holding session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) in Vienna.

He said at a news conference in Moscow that although no official explanation has been given, the Russian officials state in informal conversations that “presence of parties involved on the ground is more important at the moment because of the tense situation there.”

JCC is scheduled to take place in Vienna on February 20-21 under the initiative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht.

“I do not understand why the Russian side blocks international [meaning talks outside the region] meetings,” Khaindrava said.

But he also added that this hesitation of the Russian side does not mean Moscow’s final decision, as well as it does not mean the upcoming JCC session will be thwarted.