On 28 January, PACE had again discussed the events of August 2008 in South Ossetia and their consequences. According to Foreign Minister of RSO Murat Djioev, the adopted resolution contains softer attacks at South Ossetia and Russia, than those of the resolution adopted last autumn.
"We are pleased to noted that the European community is still trying to find out what exactly had happened in August 2008 in South Ossetia. However, many people in Europe already know that Georgia was the aggressor. Nonetheless, some European parliamentarians are still trying to present Georgia"s aggression against South Ossetia as a conflict between Georgia and Russia and blame Russia for violations of rights of Georgia as a state. Unfortunately, they often confront human rights violated in Georgia with the rights of a state," said Djioev.
He noted that "the resolution contains a number of positions which are far from reality".
"In particular, we do not understand the position of European parliamentarians demanding to stop ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia, while there was no ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia. This also refers to the statement demanding for observance of rights of Leningori district population mentioning that this district does not belong to South Ossetia and is under Russia"s occupation. Leningori district is unseparable part of South Ossetia and its population are citizens of RSO and can enjoy all rights and allowances available for the rest of the population independently of their ethnicity", said the MInister.
"As to the proposal for the Russians to leave Leningori district, it is unacceptable, since the Russian troops deployed on the territory of RSO, independently of where they are located, are present here in accordance with bilateral agreement between South Ossetia and Russia and upon the request of South Ossetia"s authorities", he underscored.
As to the statement that Russia should create conditions for the work of international organizations on the territory of South Ossetia, and OSCE in particular, the Minister emphasized that surprisingly Europe has no idea about the realities in SO, mentioning the fact that "RSO authorities had proposed OSCE to discuss future relationships already last year".
"It is clear enough that OSCE Mission to Georgia cannot continue its activities in SOuth Ossetia, since it is already a mission in the neighboring state. But we have proposed to OSCE considergin the issue of opening a mission in the Republic of South Ossetia and prove it with a correposnding memorandum of understanding with the authorities of RSO. We are ready for cooperation with international agencies. However, this cooperation should be equity based without any detriment to the rights of the people of South Ossetia", underscored the Foreign Minister.
"In general, I would like to stress that European parliamentarians had a chance to visit South Ossetia and we are ready to talk to those who is willing to portray a real state of affairs in South Ossetia, including the issues related to security of people in RSO", concluded the Minister.
