“Hard Talks” over South Ossetia Launched in Moscow
 |
| Russian, South Ossetian side wants Georgia’s extra troops out of the conflict zone, while Georgia insists on setting up its checkpoint at the Roki Pass. |
Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava, who represents the Georgian side at talks over the breakaway South Ossetia in Moscow, said that Tbilisi demands both to set up a checkpoint at the Roki Pass linking South Ossetia with Russia and the pull out of militia groups from the Java district in the breakaway region.
“It is very important for us to control the Roki Pass,” Russian media sources reported quoting Goga Khaindrava as saying.
Georgian authorities claim that smuggled goods and weapons are delivered to the breakaway region through the tunnel at the Roki Pass, which links Russia’s North Ossetian Republic with its neighboring self-styled South Ossetian Republic.
Goga Khaindrava also told reporters that Tbilisi insists on “demilitarization of the conflict zone.” “Mercenaries must leave the Java district. We will not tolerate the presence of an unauthorized heavy armament nor armored vehicles in the conflict zone either,” he added.
“We came here [in Moscow] to secure peace in the region. The key is in Moscow,” Goga Khaindrava said.
The South Ossetian de facto authorities reported on July 12 that armed groups of volunteers from Georgia’s another breakaway region of Abkhazia, as well as from Russia’s North Ossetian Republic arrived in South Ossetia. Georgia wants these armed groups to be pulled out and local militias to be disarmed.
While, the Russian side accuses Georgia of dispatching 3,000 troops in the conflict zone, which largely exceeds the number of soldiers permitted to be deployed in breakaway South Ossetia. According to the 1992 peace agreement the Georgia, South Ossetian and Russian sides should have maximum 500 soldiers each as a part of the joint peacekeeping troops in the conflict zone.
The recent incident with seizure of the Russian humanitarian aid bound for the breakaway region might be also discussed. Georgian authorities blocked the convoy of trucks of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations, carrying flour and other goods, at the Georgian-controlled village of Ergneti in the conflict zone.
The Georgian side explained this seizure of the convoy was necessary owing to an absence of the papers proving that the cargo went through the Georgian customs service. “The cargo is considered as contraband unless the Russian side pays customs dues,” Mikheil Kareli, the governor of Shida Kartli region, which also includes the breakaway region, told reporters on July 13.
The Russian Foreign Ministry promptly made a response to the incident with a strong-worded statement accusing Georgia of neglecting its commitments undertaken through the peace agreement signed back in 1992.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement also quotes this agreement as saying, “the sides find it inadmissible to use an economic blockade [on breakaway South Ossetia]… and take responsibility to provide humanitarian aid to the population of the region [South Ossetia].”
But the Georgian authorities remain firm in their demands. “The cargo will be handed over back to Russians after paying customs dues,” Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania told reporters on July 14.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Gela Bezhuashvili, who is also visiting Moscow, met with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov on July 13 to discuss recent tensions between Russia and Georgia, which irrupted on July 7 after the Georgian forces seized two Russian trucks carrying unguided missiles in breakaway South Ossetia. Bezhuashvili said before departure to Russia, that “hard talks are expected in Moscow.”
The both officials reiterated after the talks that peaceful resolution of the South Ossetian conflict is a top priority for Russia and Georgia. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently visiting UK, accused “certain forces in Russia” of provoking armed confrontation in South Ossetia.
Reports say that situation in the conflict zone now remains stabile. Unlike the previous days, no shots were heard in the conflict zone for past three days. Sporadic shootouts, which sparked in the region on July 8, left seven Georgian soldiers wounded. Reportedly several South Ossetian militias were wounded as well.
But on July 13 Georgian Rustavi 2 and Imedi televisions showed footage of the South Ossetian militia groups holding military exercises in the Java district of the breakaway region.
However, the Georgian side downplayed South Ossetian forces. “We have an exact information about the fighters, which are now in Java district. They pose no threat to us,” Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said. Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili also said “Georgia has enough forces to deal with the criminal gangs in Tskhinvali.”
But both, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister reiterated that Georgia will do outmost to avoid armed conflict.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)