State Minister Tea Akhvlediani held a meeting with members of the Assembly of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Assembly’s Secretary General Letizia Courtois, the Office of the State Minister reported.

The meeting focused on the importance of the process of searching for missing persons resulting from the armed conflicts of the 1990s and the Russia-Georgian War of August 2008, as well as on ensuring the continuation and effectiveness of this effort.

The State Minister emphasized the critical role and active involvement of the ICRC as a neutral intermediary and humanitarian actor in the program for searching for missing persons and supporting their families in Georgia.

The parties highlighted the results achieved through close cooperation and discussed the ongoing transformation of the Missing Persons Program, based on the conclusions and recommendations of a strategic study initiated by the ICRC. This process envisages a gradual strengthening of the role of relevant state agencies in implementing the program.

During the meeting, Akhvlediani delivered a presentation summarizing the work carried out, including efforts to determine the fate and whereabouts of missing persons from the 1990s to the present, achieved results, existing challenges, and future plans.

ICRC Assembly representatives positively assessed the ongoing activities and the progress made in Georgia with the organization’s support in clarifying the fate of missing persons.

The parties agreed to continue close cooperation.