Sergei Lavrov was asked by journalists to comment on a statement by Grigol Vashadze, Georgia's deputy foreign minister, that Tbilisi was ready for discussions in Geneva, scheduled for November 18, but opposed the participation of representatives from the disputed Georgian republics.
"If Georgia really refuses to participate in Geneva discussions if South Ossetian and Abkhazian representatives attend, this is sad. This means a direct challenge to everyone who cares for security in the region," Lavrov said following Russia-EU talks.
The first round of international talks on the Georgian conflict in Geneva earlier this month was suspended until November, over what Pierre Morel, EU special representative for the crisis in Georgia, described as "procedural difficulties."
The talks were to focus on security arrangements for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as on Georgian and Western concerns over the Russian military presence in the region. Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war after Georgia attacked South Ossetia on August 8 and Russia interfered to force Georgia to peace. Moscow recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states in late August.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, who led the Russian delegation, explained that two sessions had been scheduled for October 15 and that the Russian delegation refused to attend the first because representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia were not invited to participate.
Georgia refused to take part in the second session, which involved all the sides in the conflict and the intermediaries - the UN, the EU, and the United States.
Lavrov called for focusing on real problems in the region, including the status of refugees and displaced persons. "It is impossible to discuss these problems without South Ossetia and Abkhazia participating," he said.
Lavrov's position is far from being met with understanding in Georgia.
"Georgia's main demand is based on the principle of territorial integrity, and delegations from so-called Abkhazia and South Ossetia cannot be official participants of the meeting in Geneva," Deputy Foreign Minister Vashadze told journalists on Tuesday after meeting with Morel.
Morel and Peter Semneby, EU special representative for the South Caucasus, are holding political consultations with the Georgian leadership on preparations for the Geneva talks.
