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| Goga Khaindrava spoke of three-step conflict resolution plan, envisaging demilitarization, economic rehabilitaion and political settlement. |
He said that currently demilitarization of the conflict zone represents number one priority; after the demilitarization, economic rehabilitation of the breakaway region will top the agenda, which should be followed by the definition of the South Ossetia’s political status.
Goga Khaindrava outlined the Georgian side’s priorities over South Ossetia on October 27, during the meeting with the representatives of the Georgian non-governmental organizations, which was organized by the “Open Society – Georgia” Foundation and International Center for Conflicts and Negotiations.
Disarmament
Goga Khaindrava said that from the demilitarization point of view, the Georgian side demands “to localize” i.e. to put in a single, verifiable location already existing stock of armament and prevent further inflow of arms into South Ossetia.
“All the armament, possessed by the South Ossetian side, should be stored and conserved in a single location – at the base of the Russian peacekeeping forces – under the monitoring of the OSCE observers… According to the previous agreements [signed by the conflicting sides] the South Ossetian side has the right to only have the police forces,” the Georgian State Minister said.
“So we insist on disbanding of all kind of illegal armed groups in the conflict zone. Of course this will not include the joint peacekeeping troops and the police forces. But number of the police will be limited and information about the numbers, names [of those in the police forces] will be available to all the parties involved, so that we could figure out which are the police forces and which are unauthorized forces,” he added.
Khaindrava said that if these conditions are met, 1,500 peacekeepers, 500 from the each Georgian, Russian and Ossetian sides, currently deployed in the conflict zone will be sufficient for preventing the renewal of hostilities.
According to Khaindrava the strategic heights, overlooking both the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali and the Georgian villages surrounding it, are still fortified and occupied by the unauthorized South Ossetian armed groups.
“The[se] military fortifications should be immediately removed from those heights, as we have agreed in Moscow [during the JCC meeting on September 30-October 2]… We also insist on de-mining of the area,” Khaindrava said.
“All these issues are our first priorities at this moment. If these provisions are implemented, the people in South Ossetia, both Georgians and Ossetians will be able to get back to their normal life. So demilitarization should be the first step,” he added.
Economic Rehabilitation
Goga Khaindrava named economic rehabilitation of the region as a second step.
“Everybody knows that the EU funds rehabilitation projects in the region. The current funding totals to 2,5 million Euros. EU plans 2 million Euro assistance starting from the next year. As far as we know the issue of allocating 4 million Euro assistance is under consideration as well. ”
He also said that according to the agreement between Georgia and Russia, the two countries are also obliged to allocate funds for the economic rehabilitation of the region.
“Next year’s budget of Georgia considers allocation of funds for the rehabilitation projects in South Ossetia. Allocation of these funds is a commitment undertaken by us in frames of Georgian-Russian agreement. We hope the Russian side will also follow its commitment in this regard. If we sum up all these funds [foreign assistance, as well as the Georgian funding] a considerable amount of money will be allocated in the region, which will be a relief for the South Ossetian population,” Goga Khaindrava said.
Khaindrava said that the second direction in the economic projects will be providing certain privileges to the firms operating in both South Ossetia and Russia’s North Ossetian Republic.
“We are also ready to grant economic privileges to the South Ossetian and North Ossetian companies in the Georgian ports, as well as on the Georgian roads. This is in the interest of Russia as well, particularly of North Ossetia. This will enable those firms operating in South Ossetia to legalize their activity as well,” the Georgian State Minister said.
Khaindrava said that he has traveled twice to North Ossetian capital Vladikavkaz, where he held talks with the President of North Ossetia Aleksander Dzasokhov regarding these issues.
“I want to say that the North Ossetia’s influence over the South Ossetian leadership is huge. The South Ossetian side takes no steps without consultation with the North Ossetian leadership, as well as without consultations with Moscow. But very often the positions of North Ossetian authorities do not fully coincide with those of Moscow,” he added.
Goga Khaindrava also said that he has discussed possibility of establishing visa-free regime for those living in South Ossetia willing to go to North Ossetia and vice versa. The similar regime already exists for the Georgian population living in Kazbegi district, at the border with Russia who can travel to North Ossetia without Russian visa.
Political Settlement
Georgian State Minister said that the third step, which will be possible only after the two previous ones are carried out, is a political settlement of the conflict, which envisages definition of the South Ossetia’s political status.
Khaindrava said that Georgia is ready for “a significant compromise” and will grant South Ossetia status no less then the one enjoyed by the North Ossetian Republic-Alania within the Russian Federation.
According to the North Ossetian constitution, it has own President, Parliament, and the cabinet of ministers. North Ossetia deals with the internal issues independently, while the foreign relations, defense, border guard forces is the prerogative of the Russian Federal authorities.
European Union’s special representative to the South Caucasus countries Heikki Talvitie said at a news briefing in Tbilisi on October 27 that the EU is ready to provide expertise to the Georgian authorities in defining breakaway South Ossetia’s political status.