Q&A with MP Giga Bokeria over South Ossetia

On July 23 Civil Georgia interviewed the influential MP Giga Bokeria of the ruling National Movement-Democrats regarding how his party and the Georgian government hopes to find a solution to the South Ossetian problem. Mr. Bokeria is a close associate of President Mikheil Saakashvili and one of the leaders of the ruling party’s parliamentary faction.

MP Giga Bokeria said that Tbilisi is ready to offer “wide autonomy” to South Ossetia within the Georgian state; however, he added these “legal aspects are not so pressing an issue today.” He says that preventing the renewal of an armed conflict and promoting an active ‘pro-Georgian campaign’ among the local population of the breakaway region are among the top priorities of Tbilisi. Giga Bokeria foresees the resolution of the South Ossetia problem as occurring “in several months.”

Q.: What are the Georgian authorities’ plans regarding South Ossetia?

A.: Currently we are doing our best to avoid the country’s involvement in a wide-scale armed conflict. You know, we were very close to it, but we managed to avoid it. We still support a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

However, this does not mean that the Georgian authorities will reject the use of force in all cases. We are taking additional measures in order to be ready to defend our citizens in case of external military aggression. Unfortunately, we have to discuss this scenario as well. However, it is obvious that the Georgian authorities are doing their utmost not to yield to provocations.

Smuggling was the main source of income for the South Ossetian de facto authorities and the Russian peacekeeping troops deployed in the conflict zone. De facto President Eduard Kokoev and his circle managed to control the situation in the breakaway region with the help of money gained from smuggling alone.

Our positive attitude towards the Ossetian people, who will be convinced of our frankness in the near future, as well as the humanitarian projects – including distribution of pensions, providing agricultural fertilizers, flour and dispatching Georgian and Ossetian children to Georgian Black Sea resorts in Adjara, etc. – will yield positive results in the near future.

However, by escalating the tensions, Kokoev tries to hamper the dialogue between the Ossetian and Georgian people. The recent arrest of Alik Kozayev, who cooperated with the Georgian side to help organize the sending of Ossetian children to Georgian resorts in Adjara, confirms this. The South Ossetian regime even resorts to repression against its own people in order to retain power.

However, the de facto authorities will find it rather difficult to preserve their income, and their regime, after the Georgian authorities restrain smuggling in the region.

Of course, we are not going to wait forever. We have patience. We intend to offer our Ossetian citizens all the advantages they will have in a unified Georgia. We are also ready to discuss models for the protection of their interests and rights. These are not empty words; this is a part of our strategy. If somebody does not force us to take undesirable steps, this policy will bring us particular results.

Q.: When do you expect this result?

A.: I think this will occur within several months. We intend to strengthen our policy directed towards holding dialogues with the people [living in South Ossetia]. However, it would be rather unrealistic to speak about particular dates now.

The situation in the Tskhinvali region completely differs from that which was in Adjara [during the standoff between the central authorities and ex-leader of Adjara Aslan Abashidze]. In Adjara, 99% of the population identify themselves with the Georgian state. Abashidze’s regime was the only problem existing in Adjara. Therefore, we did not need much campaigning among the local population there.

As for South Ossetia, we have to convince our Ossetian compatriots of the goodwill of the Georgian authorities and the Georgian people; we have already made serious progress in this regard. At the same time, the civil society is significantly weak there, as compared with Adjara.

Simultaneously, we are working towards establishing ties with those who serve in Kokoev’s administration. To be sure, among them are many persons who wish this regime to be changed. We work in this direction very actively and the results will become obvious very soon, however it will need some time.

Q.: What do you think about the personality of de facto South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoev and his fate in a post-conflict period?

A.: The fate of Eduard Kokoev depends only on him. However, I do not think that he will change his opinion regarding the current situation. Kokoev rejects any dialogue over the status of the breakaway region within the Georgian state.

Hence, we have to talk with the Ossetian people by bypassing him; there are many people in his regime who wish to talk with us. Therefore, Kokoev tries to strengthen his regime by implementing repressive measures.

At the same time, it is worth noting that Kokoev is not an independent political figure. Russia’s political circles play a significant role. Hence, each step by Eduard Kokoev, which triggers bloodshed, will be a conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Q.: What is Russia’s role in the South Ossetian conflict?

A.: Actually, Russian peacekeeping troops control the situation in the conflict zone. The military, political and moral support for the separatists, as well as direct orders are coming from Russia.

The Russian side directly offered to exchange our three Georgian soldiers, who still remain in Tskhinvali [capital of self-styled South Ossetian Republic] jail, for the Russian weapons confiscated by the Georgian authorities [in the breakaway region. The missiles were returned to Russia on July 24]. This means that Russian militaries and diplomats, who were deeply interested in making this deal, openly declare that they represent one of the conflicting sides.

Such interference in the internal affairs of Georgia may trigger an armed confrontation.

At the present stage we managed to inform the entire world about the real situation in Georgia, as well as about Russia’s role in the recent developments.

However, this does not mean that we have changed our policy directed at the improvement of good neighborhood relations with Russia. We will do our best to improve our relations with Russia, but not at the expense of our national interests. Territorial integrity and Russia’s military bases [in Georgia, which Tbilisi demands to be disbanded] – these are the issues in which Georgia will always maintain a uncompromising position.

Q.: Do the authorities work over the issue of future status of South Ossetia?

A.: Legal aspects are not such a pressing issue today, but they will become important very soon. The most important thing is to assure the Ossetian citizens that we are open to discussing a model containing a very wide autonomy.

The only thing I can say is that this [status of South Ossetia] would significantly depend on our Ossetian compatriots. We do not intend to solve the issue over this status unilaterally. Naturally, the opinion of the Georgian society will be of huge importance. But at the same time, great attention will be paid to the opinion of the Ossetian population, which makes up the majority of the population of the territory whose status will be discussed.

Various structures of the government, as well as the representatives of the civil society, are engaged in elaborating the status of the Tskhinvali region.

The final document elaborated by us will be of great importance, but presently we aim to ensure that the Ossetian compatriots feel themselves as equal members of the Georgian society, who will, in turn, face no danger of losing their self-identity in the Georgian state.

As soon as they [Ossetian people] see our real intentions, we will focus on particular legal issues. Of course, army, border, foreign policy and monetary policy should all lie within the competence of the unified state. All other issues can become a subject of discussion.

Naturally, the solution of the South Ossetian problem will help the authorities begin to work over the settlement of the third, more complicated problem regarding Abkhazia. We will have to do the most difficult work there in order to change the negative perception which exists among the Abkhazian society towards the Georgian state.

The situation in Abkhazia is much more difficult than in South Ossetia. The region is more isolated from the Georgian state, when compared with the Tskhinvali region. Resolution of the Abkhaz conflict will take much more time.

The results of the illegitimate Presidential elections scheduled for October in Abkhazia are rather important for us. The results should define the side with which we will have a subsequent dialogue.

We will focus our attention in this direction [Abkhazia] only after the resolution of the South Ossetian conflict. The supreme goal of the Georgian authorities is to restore the territorial integrity of the country and we will achieve this goal by all means.