Q: A propaganda campaign connected with the work on the designation of the line of the state border between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia has been launched in Georgia. As they say in Tbilisi, this line was moved deeper into the territory of the neighboring state, and residents of the areas of Georgia bordering with South Ossetia lost their agriculturally used land. How would you comment on this?
A: This campaign is just another blatant provocation, fabricated without rhyme or reason. Similar hysterics of the official Tbilisi, normally arranged to some events, in this case to the next meeting in the Karasin-Abashidze format, have already become traditional and surprise particularly nobody. It should be noted that such actions were resorted to in Tbilisi too often.
The provocative nature of the Georgian hysteria is confirmed by the fact that the last time the boundary signs were installed this year on June 19, which is confirmed by the reports of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), but this was used as an informational case in Georgia only today.
Residents of the areas of Georgia bordering with South Ossetia have been repeatedly warned against the inadmissibility of economic activities in the territory of South Ossetia and the responsibility for violating the state border regime over the past several years. Agree, it's hard to imagine that citizens of Georgia could cultivate the land and harvest in Russia or Azerbaijan, or engage in fishing in the territorial waters of Turkey without permission of the authorities of these states. Obtaining such a permit can be the subject and outcome of negotiations. Georgia should think about the transition to a civilized interstate format of communication with the Republic of South Ossetia.
Now to the point.
Border marks are installed only in the territory of South Ossetia, at a distance of 50 meters from the border line. This work is carried out exclusively by the forces of the Frontier Department of the Republic of South Ossetia and is completely open to Georgian side and the EUMM representatives. Work on demarcation, arrangement of the border line, maintaining security at the state border of the Republic of South Ossetia will continue in future.
Considering the tragic events of the latest quarter of century in South Ossetia, related to the armed aggression of Georgia, and the continuing claims to territory of the neighboring state, we are convinced that the effective protection of the state border with Georgia is one of the key factors of maintaining stability and security in the region. This was repeatedly stated at the Geneva International Discussions.
Unfortunately, the Georgian authorities do not react to repeated appeals to start a joint process of delimitation and demarcation of the border between our states. The official invitation to this work is voiced by the South Ossetian delegation practically at every round of the Geneva Discussions and at meetings in the format of the IPRM.
Once again we call on the official Tbilisi to refuse of the policy of provocations, threats and confrontation regards the Republic of South Ossetia and to demonstrate its interest in building a strong regional security system, not on paper but in real life.