The threats to South Ossetia existing in the South Caucasus are growing, it is necessary to return to the idea of creating a sustainable regional security architecture, Inal Sanakoev, head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology of the South Ossetian State University, said during the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Russia and the World: Dialogues 2024. Forces of Attraction”.
At the state university on Friday, the conference participants discussed the topic of security of partially recognized states.
Sanakoev has noted that after the Karabakh events, the idea of solving the problem of its so-called “territorial problems” similar to the Karabakh scenario began to be heard more often in Georgia.
“We are very concerned about the constant and steady increase in Georgia’s military expenses, and this has been happening since 2008. In addition, Georgia constantly conducts military exercises with NATO. The Geneva discussions, which have been taking place since 2008, have not led to the signing of a non-aggression treaty and the chances that Georgia will sign this treaty are minimal. This situation is worrying because, in fact, since there is no peace treaty, we are in a state of war with Georgia,” Sanakoev said.
He has emphasized that it is necessary to return to the idea of creating sustainable regional security architecture.
“The existing threats to South Ossetia have obvious increasing trends. We need to return to the topic of creating a regional security structure. I think all the South Caucasian peoples and states will benefit if this structure is created,” he added.
Vice-Rector for International Relations and Economic Affairs of the Abkhaz State University Maxim Gvindzhia supported his idea, emphasizing that by creating a sustainable, stable security system, all the peoples of the Caucasus will benefit.
Director of the Center for the Study of Peacekeeping at the Transnistrian University, Elena Bobkova, for her part, has noted that the issue of the right to security is one of the most important issues for them.
“Currently, Pridnestrovie is in a difficult situation. The issue of the right to security is one of the most important for us. Our rights to peace and security are being actively violated. Just yesterday or the day before yesterday there were statements about the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping forces, which for more than 30 years have already allowed us to live peacefully, we have no casualties. This is a serious security threat for us. The population and the expert community are very concerned about this. And, probably, it would be interesting to include Pridnestrovie in this regional security scheme, because we are focused, first of all, on a peaceful, calm life,” Bobkova said.
Rector of the South Ossetian State University Vadim Tedeev indicated that Georgia is not abandoning attempts to deprive the Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples of their statehood and expel them from the land of their ancestors.
“The Georgian special services, as well as the intelligence services of Western countries, which view South Ossetia as a hostile country, are working purposefully and systematically against South Ossetia. Georgia does not abandon its attempts to deprive the Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples of their statehood. For propaganda purposes, certain political circles in neighboring Georgia are talking about switching to soft power politics, which will allegedly turn Ossetians and Abkhazians towards Georgia,” Tedeev said.
He has noted that at the same time, maintaining internal political stability in the Republic and countering external threats against the backdrop of the ever-present geopolitical challenge from Georgia is the responsibility of every citizen of the Republic and, first of all, representatives of all branches of government.
Tedeev has emphasized that Russia is the closest country to South Ossetia and regularly helps not only the peaceful construction of the Republic, but also provides enormous support in the international arena, and South Ossetia acts as a geopolitical outpost of Russia and appreciates the trust placed in it by Russia in protecting common global interests.
He has reminded that thanks to the dedication of the Ossetian people and the military intervention of the Russian Federation in August 2008, the people of South Ossetia were saved from destruction.
