Development of the southern Caucasus and the Black Sea is being seriously hampered by persistent and paralysing territorial conflicts and the countries that are being affected run the risk of being excluded from current regional modernisation plans. Georgia is worthy of special mention, as the country has huge strategic importance – for being the gateway to the southern Caucasus and central Asia – and its territorial integrity is being questioned by Abkhazia and South Ossetia, territorial entities that officially form part of Georgia, but which in practice have been operating as independent countries for more than a decade and have recently been officially recognized as independent States by Russia and Nicaragua.

Within this context and taking advantage of the emphasis given to the Caucasus issue by the Spanish and Finnish OSCE presidencies in 2007 and 2008 respectively, CITpax decided to launch two support projects aimed at defusing, where possible, the territorial conflicts between Georgia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Within the context of both projects, each one lasting a minimum of one year, it was expected that support meetings and study visits would be held with representatives from the conflicting parties; training seminars in mediation skills or the in-depth study of transversal technical issues that are of equal interest to both parties (such as human security, energy, economic development or the protection of the displaced persons).

Projects and activities include