to the statements of the President of Georgia M. Saakashvili regarding the peaceful initiatives suggested by the President of the Republic of South Ossetia E. Kokoity
On 28 January 2008 the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity sent in to the President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili a letter with the proposals of the meeting of conflict parties on high level in the existing negotiation framework with the participation of OSCE Chairman in Office. For the effective result of the meeting was suggested to sign the commitments on non application of force in Georgian-Ossetian conflict settlement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia also directed an appropriate letter to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia where it was proposed to start consultations on the practical realization of the meeting.
It is worth mentioning that the initiative was submitted to Georgian authorities more than once. South Ossetian side believes that such steps could become not just a real confirmation of Georgian side peaceful assurances but also laid the bases for trust building between the sides and to intensify the regulation process and to normalize Georgian-Ossetian relations in general. Unfortunately, South Ossetian calls for constructive co-operation did not find understanding in Georgian Government and were demonstratively ignored.
However, on 15 March 2008 the President Saakashvili officially denied the meeting and declared Georgian unwillingness to commit itself on non-use of force, thus confirmed once more that the military means of Georgian-Ossetian conflict resolution is still on the agenda. It is indicative this was pronounced at his speech at Gori military base built of about 30 km from Tskhinval.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs with regret has to consider Georgian President statements as a reply to South Ossetian peaceful initiatives. Most destructive position of Georgian government indicates to lack of political arguments essential for the continuation of peaceful dialog. Taking into consideration Georgian warlike rhetoric and its militarization this is a source of new Georgian-Ossetian conflict eruption.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again draw attention of democratic structures and institutions of international community interested in peaceful and just settlement of Georgian-Ossetian conflict to the real threat of scaled destabilization of the situation in Caucasian region, outgoing from Georgia and at the necessity of unambiguous and effective appraisement of position, stand by its government.
