The UN High Commissioner for Human Right Ms. Navi Pillay made a number of statements on situation in South Ossetia, during her visit to Georgia, that have nothing to do with the reality. According to the High Commissioner South Ossetia became a ‘black hole’ and ‘one of the most difficult places to access’ where ‘living conditions are steadily deteriorating’ She noted that “despite the multiple attempts and appeals on behalf of the UN General Secretary, we have been denied access to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I myself tried to get admittance but I was rejected again”.
Ms. Pillay, as a senior person holding a responsible position, should know that access to any country of the world is regulated by its legislation and South Ossetia is not an exception. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of South Ossetia bindingly confirms that neither the UN General Secretary nor the UN Human Right Commissioner have ever applied to authorities of South Ossetia with a request for admittance to South Ossetia.
It should be noted that loud statements, made by the High Commissioner during her visit to Georgia, are misleading the International Community and are based on stories and allegations of the Georgian politics and ‘NGOs’ that are unfriendly towards South Ossetia and its people. Concerns expressed by Ms. Pillay regarding worsening living conditions of population of South Ossetia obviously contradict the reality as living standards in South Ossetia are sensibly better compared with those in Georgia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of South Ossetia asserts that unilateral support to political interests of the Georgian authorities facilitates neither better information sharing with the International Community nor advancement of the post conflict resolution process in the South Caucasus.
Authorities of South Ossetia have acknowledged many times their openness to international cooperation and would like to express again their readiness for interaction with all international organizations and countries that show respect to people of South Ossetia and their rights.
Tskhinval, 22 May 2014