September 8, 2016 saw members of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress adopting by an absolute majority the Resolution (H. Res. 660) which contained not only the mythical and abstract theses about “the territorial integrity” and “occupation of Georgian regions” by Russia but also an appeal to give Georgia “opportunities for defense”.
The new round of the USA and NATO activity around Georgia can't but cause reasonable concern in South Ossetia. In particular, reassuring statements about the entry of Georgia into NATO and strengthening of its defense capability made by Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, during his visit to Georgia. And all this against the background of Agile Spirit-2016, NATO military exercises, staged on territory of Georgia.
In this regard, there is an inevitable question: against whom is Georgia going to use the military potential increased by means of its Western partners?
It’s well-known to what tragic consequences this led in 2008. We in South Ossetia remember well that in 2004 and 2008 civilians were killed by the troops trained by the U.S. and NATO instructors using weapon generally received from western countries.
Georgia has never hidden the intention to return “its territories”. Without any doubt they would intend to return these territories by means of militarization and use of force. Nothing of this, frankly speaking, corresponds to statements about the aspiration of Georgian authorities to smoothing out relations with “the fraternal Ossetian people”.
Any military aid given to Georgia, no matter what is the reason of it, strengthens its revanchist moods and promotes undermining stability and escalation of situation in the region.
Clear legal guaranties of non-use of force by Georgia against South Ossetia, what South Ossetia party is trying to achieve within the Geneva discussions, would become true contribution to security building in the region.
September 12, 2016, Tskhinval