Commentary of the press-bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia concerning the Euro parliament resolution on Georgia

On November 17, 2011 Euro parliament adopted a resolution on Georgia where it was stated that “the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia should be announced occupied territories” and also there contains an address to Russia “to fulfill committed in 2008 obligations and withdraw its troops from Georgian territories”.

Although in April 2010 Euro parliament supported report of international independent EU commission headed by Khaidi Tagliavini on investigation of conflict circumstances in South Ossetia, the main conclusion was that it was Georgia who started the war against South Ossetia in august 2008, in its yesterday’s resolution it was stated that the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia were occupied.

In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia considers this resolution as an attempt to turn the situation back by any biased methods, bring back to Georgia lost positions thoughtlessly following Georgian propaganda. Euro parliament should not be neither prosecutor, nor judge in the issue of South Ossetia, knowing little and don’t care about the opinion of South Ossetia and coming from suppositions, rumors and interests of Georgia. It would be more reasonable to invite representatives of South Ossetia to Euro parliament sittings to let them inform of questions connected with our states. Exactly lack of international contacts and restricting South Ossetia’s access to international tribunes creates a perverted impression of many members of international community of situation in region.

As for the presence of Russian troops at the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia, it is stipulated by bilateral Russo-Southossetian agreements what cannot be seen as an occupation. Russia completely committed its obligations on Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, there is no a single Russian military at the Georgian territory and all the claims against Russia on this issue are deliberately groundless.

The Ministry of South Ossetia of the Republic of South Ossetia expresses a firm belief that Europarliament, as well as the other international institutions first of all should provide an objective appraisal to what is going on in this region, taking into consideration opinion of all interested sides, and not push Georgian authorities to abstract revanchist idea.

Tskhinval, November 17, 2011

17.11.2011