The Georgian leadership launched another initiative to normalize relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This time Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has offered South Ossetia and Abkhazia autonomy within a unified Georgia, inviting them to go all the way together to the "bright future" with the help of European integration. How would you comment on another "peace plan" of Tbilisi?
Inal Pliev expert:
Georgia is characterized by sharp and dashing changes of its policy. There always take place some revolutions, conspiracies, coups, wars and other hysterics in Georgia. Where the wheel of the Georgian politics will turn tomorrow do not know even the most experienced politicians in Georgia. And we are calm and peaceful people. We do not want these hassles and zigzags. We want to live and work in a peaceful, stable environment, without any surprises and "adventures."
For 20 years, from 1988 to 2008, some have been waiting, hoping that Georgia will understand, heed the voice of reason, the voice of truth, the voice of justice, refuse to divide nations into "first-rate" and "second-rate", abandon the military-political confrontation with Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 20 years - this is almost a lifetime! For 20 years the world has seen many new developments, invented many new technical innovations, mankind has made a significant step in its development, the world has changed. It has only remained unchanged the collective consciousness of the Georgian society, regardless of who at different stages of the development of Georgia personally represented what is called the "political elite"- Ossetians are aliens, and they should get out or be destroyed.
Seeing that South Ossetia could not be destroyed by force, Georgia has used all sorts of tenderness: peaceful expressions, round tables and other methods. However, these fox manners can deceive nobody. Only brute fear of the military power of Russia keeps Georgia from the use of its armed forces for destruction of South Ossetia and extermination of its population. Once Georgia feels weakness of Russia, it does not slow down again to walk along our and with fire and sword.
Today we are witnessing dramatic changes in the political map of the world and the collapse of world order and international law. Sovereignty and independent status are not guarantees of security. Just being part of a large and powerful state one can look forward with confidence. Therefore, it is necessary not to dwell on the details, like statements of the mentally remaining in the last Georgian officials, but calmly and confidently going to our aim.
Khokh Kozaev, a soldier:
I pay little attention to the statements like these. Before the recognition of our independence they cost nothing - we knew they were hypocritical; Georgia did not want peace, preparing for war, that happened later.
Now the situation has changed radically, our security is guaranteed by Russia, here are dislocated its troops. I do not think that even Saakashvili, whether he had been still in power, would have unleashed war, knowing its consequences. Therefore, any statements and peaceful plans of Georgia are of little interest to our society. Previously, under their guise they were trying to destroy us, we were watching the speeches of Tbilisi, just to know what were they cooking again. Now, having lost the opportunity to bite, the Georgian authorities and their statements have lost all meaning.
I think, our Foreign Ministry and other official structures have to react on them, but now it has more value as a diplomatic procedure. Well, it is necessary to keep the powder dry, of course.
Fatima Dzhioeva, a resident of Tskhinval:
In my opinion, the words of the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili about autonomy of South Ossetia and Abkhazia within Georgia are very strange and absurd. How can he offer autonomy to a free and independent Republic, which for so many years at the price of life has been achieving recognition? Saying that we will live peacefully, why they do not remember the actions against civilians, killing innocent people, buried alive, massacred the Ossetian people. Where then was their peace? They should be ashamed to make such offers. Republic of South Ossetia is a free state. We have finally gained the long-awaited recognition, the Republic is being rehabilitated. And I'm sure that soon our country will become prosperous. We struggled for quite a brilliant future of our country and paid a high price for it.
Alan Dzhussoev, public figure:
With Georgia we lived in one state during the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Both these states have collapsed; as a result, we have made our choice, as an independent state. We never had one pain with Georgia; moreover, we have different mentality and culture.
Georgia has positioned itself as a democratic country, and if Garibashvili be so wise, realizing that someone else's choice must be respected, maybe in future we will become good neighbors.
But we will never live together with Georgia. His statements I can compare with the statements of a man who spent thirty years in prison, he is released, and he is offered to return to prison again on better terms.
Garibashivli invites us to return to prison. I believe this proposal is inappropriate. Georgia has its own way, we have our own.
Aza Khabalova, a pensioner:
Ossetian people know well the price of such statements made by Georgian politicians. In August 2008, we had the opportunity to witness the peace initiatives of our southern neighbor.
People of South Ossetia will never return to Georgia, we paid too high price for our independence and peaceful development. Let Georgia goes its own way and leave us alone. Their attempts to establish a relationship with us always led to new wars and countless casualties. We no longer want to send our sons to fight against the Georgian aggressors. We want to live in a peaceful country.
Zaira Bestaeva, a housewife:
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili believes that Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be able to fully implement plans to create the independent states. People of South Ossetia are not interested, in what believes Garibashvili. Our state has been created long ago. Our Republic has been recognized and we do not need the approval of Georgia. According to him, a "balanced policy and strong economy" will be able to restore the confidence of Abkhazians and Ossetians. It is not necessary to restore trust, but to gain it. To do this, first of all, one needs to recognize the genocide of the Ossetian people, not speaking about common pain. Garibashvili is talking nonsense as if he is not aware of the situation for so many years.
Zaira Kochieva, a housewife:
Garibashvili is not sincere! Those who were in power before him were saying the same, but it led only to war, misery, destruction. Georgian leaders have also done a lot of harm to their own people. I do not understand the aim of his lie, pushing the nations against each other, what benefit they have got from this bloodshed. I'm talking about Saakashvili, Gamsakhurdia and suchlike. They managed to cause people a lot of grief. But I do not see any difference between those and the new ones. They just have not had time, waiting in the wings.
