South Ossetian, Georgian Sides Begin Dismantling Fortifications

The Georgian and South Ossetian sides, under the supervision of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, involving Georgian, Ossetian and Russian troops, began undertaking measures aimed at dismantling military fortifications in the conflict zone on November 15.

?Mine clearers from the Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian peacekeeping battalions, which are part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces, started a reconnaissance of the area adjacent to the northern outskirts of the city [South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali] on Monday morning. After their mission is completed, we shall be able to begin dismantling the illegally built military fortifications,? Itar-Tass news agency quoted Erdni Natyrov, a spokesman for the Joint Peacekeeping Forces.

An agreement, signed by Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoev on November 5 in Sochi, envisages the demilitarization of the conflict zone before November 20

But Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava, who has been in the South Ossetian conflict zone since November 11 in order to oversee the demilitarization of the region, says disarmament is ?a hard and long process.?