Paata Zakareishvili, Georgia State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, declared on December, 8 that Georgian authorities were ready to conduct any form of dialogue, including negotiations with South Ossetia authorities. In his report on the work conducted by the ministry Mr.Zakareishvili stated that it had concentrated on “approaching Abkhazian and Ossetian public” that allowed binding relationship between the people and promoted confidence-building. According to the assurances made by the minister “important steps, such as supplying with gas, irrigation and potable water, construction of schools, day cares, rehabilitation of roads were made”.
Other deceitful insinuations made by representatives of Georgian authorities are aimed to assure international community of the fact that relations with the Ossetians are being established. It is well-known that for more than five years Georgian authorities have been refusing flatly to sign the legally binding document on non-use of force. This fact testifies the intention of Tbilisi political leaders to force South Ossetia to be a part of Georgia by all means, including use of power, and nullifies any possibility of bringing about a direct contact between South Ossetia and Georgia beyond the multilateral Geneva discussions, unless the agreement on non-use of force is signed and diplomatic relations are establishmed.
Today living standards in Georgia are much lower than both in South Ossetia and Russian regions next to the Republic. Attempts to bribe South Ossetian people by providing our citizens with the best medical care at the expense of western grants and various funds are absurd. It’s not a secret that Georgia has a rather week social safety net and the expensive treatment and drugs are inaccessible to the vast majority of Georgian citizens.
As for supplying with gas, social infrastructure developing and post-conflict restoration, it should be noted, that despite the liabilities arising from the Agreement between Governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Georgia on Economic Recovery of the Areas within the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict Zone, dated 1993, Georgia hasn’t allocated even a ruble for restoration of the facilities destroyed by it in South Ossetia. Today the only country that has helped in restoration of South Ossetia is the Russian Federation.
It is time for Georgian party to realize that the reality isn’t related at all with the picture drawn by imagination of the Georgian politicians. For more than twenty four years South Ossetia is a sovereign state that respects international law. As earlier we would stand for equal neighbour lines with Georgia. Unfortunately, our message doesn't find a response from Georgian authorities.
December 13, 2014, Tskhinval