The so-called territorial integrity of Georgia was again supported within the meeting of the Security and Defense Working Group of the U.S.–Georgia Strategic Partnership Commission, which was organized in the U.S. Department of State. During the meeting the U.S. representatives expressed once again the concern about the on-going borderization of the Republic of South Ossetia. Alongside with this Russia was again called on to withdraw its forces from the region.
Being one of the parties of the Geneva discussions, Georgia declares its commitment to peaceful process. However, in practice it refuses to sign the legally binding document on non-use of force against South Ossetia and, moreover, receives help from its Western partners and is actively engaged in re-equipment of the Georgian army. Such contrast approach to common security challenges causes a number of questions.
In general, huge injections of American money into Georgian defense industry play into the hands of the Georgian leaders, who stake on the revanchist policy and the policy of increasing the level of military confrontation, and seriously undermine the security of all states in the region.
Not a single Russian soldier is in the territory of Georgia. As for the presence of Russian military forces in South Ossetia, they are deployed in accordance with the bilateral interstate agreements in full conformity with the international law.
Unfortunately, the imprudent position of denial of the independence of the new Transcaucasian states, taken by Washington, makes it difficult to assess objectively the existing reality and interferes with taking of the required decisions, which could promote peacemaking in the region.
Tskhinval, September 13, 2017