Tskhinvali Rejects Expansion of OSCE, Peacekeepers’ Area of Responsibility

The South Ossetian officials rejected Georgian interpretation of the “zone of conflict” in South Ossetia during the talks in framework of Joint Control Commission (JCC).

The Georgian side, represented by the State Minister on Conflict Resolution Goga Khaindrava insists that the “zone of conflict” as defined in 1992 accords relates to the whole territory of South Ossetia. Thus, the Georgian side claims, the peacekeepers and OSCE observers should be authorised to monitor all the districts of breakaway South Ossetia, including the Java district and, vitally the Roki pass on the Russian border. 

“We want the Roki Pass to be controlled by the joint peacekeeping troops with the participation of observers from the OSCE,” Goga Khaindrava, the Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues said at a news briefing in Moscow on October 1.

Currently, the “zone of conflict” is interpreted to include only so called “security corridor” as defined by 1996 agreement, meaning the territory in 15-kilometer radius of the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. As a result, the peacekeepers essentially serve as a separation force between the ethnically Georgian and ethically Osset villages of South Ossetia. The Java district and the Roki tunnel, to the North of republic, are beyond control. Georgian side claims that in recent escalation the tunnel was used to funnel the “volunteers” to South Ossetia, while Java district was used as a training camp.

“We insist that the joint peacekeeping forces, which involve the Georgian, Russian and Ossetian troops, could operate on entire territory of South Ossetia… The key of resolution of the conflict can not be found only within the [current] conflict zone,” Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency, as saying at the news briefing in Moscow on October 1.

The quadripartite JCC involves Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian sides, started session on September 30 and sides are expected to sign the final protocol on October 2.

According to the Tbilisi-based Imedi television, the South Ossetian side does not oppose increase in number of the OSCE military observers in the conflict zone from current 5 to 10.

Reports say that the agreement has already been reached over holding of top-level talks between the conflicting sides. Goga Khaindrava said that talks between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoev might be held in the second half of October.

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