The population of both South Ossetia and North Ossetia is very much concerned about the events happening now in Georgia, the protest rallies. However, the leadership of Georgia is trying to differently interpret the events, as if it were Russia’s starting up some actions against Georgia. Nothing of the kind is taking place, the situation is stable, said RSO President Eduar Kokoity commenting the current developments in South Ossetia.
”There is a will of certain circles to destabilize the not only because of events in Georgia, but also due to our own pre-election campaign. Therefore, I would like to address all inhabitants of North and South Ossetia to remain calm. Presently, the armed forces of Georgia are unable to resist neither the armed forces of South Ossetia nor to the military contingent of the RF in SO. Therefore, I consider it senseless to have this kind of concerns. The fact that the Georgian side is trying to provoke tensions and show up military presence in the zone where its forces should not be deployed, in the zone of the European monitors’ responsibility. The Georgian side continues engineering and fortification works in these zones, relocation of military equipment and concentration of personnel had been observed – all these had been done to keep the population of South Ossetia under tension. Meanwhile, this once again underlined the fact that the European monitors are unable to cope with their tasks and their inaction and silence undermine the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreements. In general, I would say that the situation is calm and there is no need to artificially aggravate it”.
- TV Channel IR: We became an independent state. When will the borders of South Ossetia be determined?
- We are an independent state since 1992. Now we are a recognized state. As to state border, we are going to sign an agreement with the Russian Federation on joint border-guarding of South Ossetia. After signing this agreement, we will be jointly controlling the whole perimeter of the border, and this borderline will correspond to the administrative border of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast. Currently the border is under control of the RSO Ministry of Defense, Interior Ministry and RSO Border-guard Services. But, in the nearest future, the borderline will be protected jointly with the RF border-guard forces.
- Newspaper “Yuzhnaya Osetia” : Many voters criticize the current Parliament for passiveness, political parties are criticized for their being active only in times of elections. In the Russian Federation, certain legal acts had been adopted to stimulate active participation of political parties and the Parliament. In this regard, what is planned to be done in SO?
- Unfortunately, we have experience the situation when political parties show their activeness only when elections are approaching. Then they disappear. We have four officially registered parties. I have actively participated in the registration of “FYDYBASTA” party, since I am interested in having a strong civil society and strong political system in order to make the party system work. But, I can say that these parties exist only on paper. I will not criticize or defend anyone. I have met all the parties, we have held preliminary consultations on many issues, including those related to upcoming election. The consultations were held at high level, since these are elections in a recognized state. We have a well-established electoral institute, but at the same time, the upcoming election had drawn close attention both of friends and foes. Therefore, we have to create equally favorable conditions for all political parties. On the other hand, these parties should display their readiness for this kind of competition and how well-set intern order and discipline they have. These factors have a big influence on many things. The most important is to base ourselves on party interests, but on national ones. If we take into account the existing ambitions of these parties’ leaders, I think, that some of them are steep enough. There is a party with good traditions – the Communist Party, there is a young, effective and influential pro-president party “Yedinstvo”, there is a recently established party “FYDYBASTA” and “The Peoples’ Party”. It is for the people of South Ossetia to decide, who to follow. In this sense, the most important is to consolidate the society. There are attempts by some people who call on population for absenteeism to breakdown the election. Unfortunately, these are people, who are not living in South Ossetia, and thus, they are not interested in the Republic’s fate. To our regret, these are Ossetians. But I would like to assure you that the election will be held on the level of high organizational standards. And our people will not allow political fraudsters and mutants to mislead the people. Our people are wise, politicized, enduring and today we are facing the decisive and crucial point in the process of strengthening out statehood. Too much depends on well the political parties understand their responsibility.
- IA RES: Eduard Djabeevich, do you expect any amendments to the RSO Constitution with the newly elected Parliament?
- Amendments are possible both with the current Parliament and the one to be elected. But it is agin for the people to decide.
- Newspaper «21 Seculare»: What are the foreign policy priorities: strengthening of sovereign and independent Republic or joining the Russian Federation?
- We are building up a sovereign state; we have been recognized by the Russian Federation. We are having consultations with many states, including European countries. I would like to say that we have achieved certain success in this respect. But, we are not going to force changes to happen in terms of recognition. Things will be clearer in the course of the time and we will strive for changes to happen as soon as possible. Our foreign policy in maximum integration into Russia does not mean that we refuse our independence. At this stage, we are building an independent state, and I would reiterate it all depends on what the people decide. We should use the today’s realities for the benefit of our people, for integration between North and South Ossetia. Recognition is an additional ground for better integration opportunities and unity. Many Western journalists may consider this as refusing the independence. We should be realistic and take into account the will of our people. We are building up our state, our statehood. There might be different forms of integration, including that of a Union State. I am not going to play with this or maneuver. It is not typical for Ossetians.
- IA Interfax: : Russian media disseminated information that a number of construction sites in South Ossetia would remain Russia's property. Can you please specify which construction sites were meant?
- As to sites under construction, some of them have double purpose. The territory for them has been allocated for 99 years. Besides, were are also responsible for maintenance of the buildings. This does not mean that they do not belong to the people of South Ossetia. We have good relations with the RF Ministry for Regional development and we have their understanding. There were certain attempts to spoil our relations; articles appeared in media, but we did no agree with the priority steps to be taken without actual participation and opinion of the South Ossetian side. You can imagine the situation, in which the people had to live since August 2008. At that time, many groups arrived with their constructors to divide the city into parts and pick up the sites for construction. Many ministries started lobbying their interests. What was the eventual outcome? I can understand the division of the city into sectors, but why do we need 10-12 schools, 5-6 hospitals in the city, when we do not have any rehabilitation center. No a single rouble had been allocated for rehabilitation of private housing. This is the reason why we were having tense negotiations. There were no funds allocated for rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure. The quality of water flowing through the Edis water pipeline is one of the best in the world, while the water we finally receive is different. The problem is in the pipeline. The question is why we need palaces if we have no clean potable water. Our precondition was that we first build private housing, rehabilitate infrastructure and then we continue with the rest. The government of Moscow had a well-thought and professional approach to the issue. They fenced the whole section, they will provide it with new infrastructure, and they will additionally help us. It is true, we lost time, but we saved money. Some people took the advantage of these temporal difficulties and tried to gain cheap populist political capital. Many inhabitants criticized us for not providing funds for reconstruction, and today they keep bringing their complaints that their roofs were poorly repaired and that it is impossible to stay in their apartments. I do not even speak about the quality, the budgets were exaggerated. On the contrary, here we have the same work with all technological requirements met and the fixed price of 3,500 RUR per square meter, while we were offered to write off 9,800 RUR. Certainly, we did not allow the subcontractors to do so, and then articles, threats and discontent followed. These are strong companies and they have free access to media. They have launched their media source to launch their campaigns. This was sort of a pressure. Look, some roofs are left uncovered to force us give them advance payments. Some of the advance payments were more than the scope of the whole work. The Committee for Reconstruction, technical monitoring structures managed to get a 1,586 bil RUR decrease of the sum.
- IA RES: Will compensation payouts to affected residents of South Ossetia continue?
- This issue is the most painful and crucial for our people. The funds are available at the Ministry of finance of the Russian Federation. South Ossetia has no funds available and it is no South Ossetia who allocates and distributes the funds. We only transfer the lists of inhabitants. Only after the lists are approved, funds are transferred to the National Bank of South Ossetia. Then, through Sberbank of South Ossetia, we deliver 10-15,000 RUR payments among our citizens. So far, we have paid out 78 mil.RUR out of the total allocated sum, while the total sum for the lists we transferred is 430 mil. RUR. We did our best. Today, the issue is still on the agenda. Why this issue has been raised by representatives of Audut Chamber of the Russian Federation? We addressed them and we will send a written request to the authorities of the RF to resume the payouts of compensation to the population of South Ossetia. It is unclear why they did not take into consideration our lists and why the payouts had been suspended. We have adopted final lists at the last session of the Government Presidium. Therefore, all related questions are not to be referred to the authorities of South Ossetia.
One more issue that causes concerns among the population. You are aware of the fact that there is a special bank account opened, and many people mistakenly connect it with budgeted assistance allocated by the Russian Federation. The special bank account was opened for Russian citizens to transfer their donations. A troublesome expression by the Head of the National Bank of South Ossetia gave rise for numerous rumors and questions. These funds are not meant for everyone, they are for those who are most affected. There are four categories of affected people, and we identified them at the Government Presidium session. As to these funds, they should be targeted at most vulnerable. We will be providing assistance to defenders who were wounded and to the families of killed. Therefore, there is sort of reserved state budget. Yes, it is worth criticizing the government and those people who were tasked to elaborate a transparent mechanism. It has been seven months that the funds are frozen, and only 56 mil. RUR taken upon approval from the Parliament to assist the population in South Ossetia. If these funds were put into use, we would be able to receive dividends on a monthly basis and would be able to have more room for budget planning. The 56 mil funds are meant for rehabilitation treatment of 150 defenders first, and second, for 100 other persons.
Why did we establish the Union of Motherland Defenders? Today, some politicians, separate personas who failed in their work, including the work within their posts in the Parliament, start to criticize these boys.
After the 1989-1992 events, all persons defending their homes were left for the mercy of fate. They did their duties and no one had offered them help. Today, these people organized themselves and I do and will support this. They are considered as a strong political and public force. Yes, they are my supporters, but we have been together rebuffing the aggression and they are members of our society. What is wrong about them uniting into an association to defend their rights and strive for social benefits for themselves? If they do not play somebody's games, it does not mean they are bad. I will do my best to support them and stand for their interests. This is a real force in our society, which we should support independently of what position they hold and what political viewpoints they adhere to.
- IA RES: What is the new scheme for financing construction works? Is it true that the Committee for Reconstruction will be replaced by "South Directorate" as the customer?
- The financing scheme will not be changed. The Finance Ministries of the RF and SO had signed an agreement. We still do not know who would be the members to the South Directorate. I have met Yuri Kovalev, the Director of the department. There were certain offers and attempts to organize all deliveries through the directorate. The fact that we are trying to integrate into the RF, upheld our independence and achieved the goals our people were striving for, is being transferred by some people into the dimension of material benefits. There are discrepancies in the positions, but we do not need this money to let somebody discredit us. And Russia is giving out this money not for this wrong purpose, but in order to help us. These are certain political groups, which were trying to have a piece of this money, discredit, and cast doubts on whatever possible. Event the idea of Russia's providing us with assistance. These circles did not like our vigor and principality. That is why they tried to kick us out and deliver everything among themselves. We only approved the fund allocation without being able to control what exactly they are spent on and interfere if there are violations in the course of the construction works. We refused this and suggested them to sign all the documents in order that South Ossetians are with clear conscience before Russia. We have to be accountable for each single kopek Russia had allocated since these are taxes paid by Russian citizens and we do not have the right not to defend this position of ours. 41,000 persons had transferred donations to the special bank account. We will be publishing the names of persons and companies on behalf of which the funds were provided to express our gratitude to them and ensure transparency. As to humanitarian assistance, the sites for reconstruction and their budget estimates, it will all be seen and evaluated. We should appreciate the assistance provided by Russia.
- TV Channel «Russia Today»: Protest rallies against Saakashvili are ongoing in Tbilisi. You stated that you are not going to have any contact with the now leadership of Georgia. If there is a change of the authorities, will there be new contacts established?
It would be more correct to say that there are protest rallies against an international criminal. This person had committed crimes both against the peoples of South Ossetia and Georgia. He is responsible for all victims since the very first day of him coming to power. I believe Georgia is now facing a deep political crisis. Georgia has not become a state, as well as Ukraine, which has been constantly in turmoil. Though Georgian had grieved Ossetians, I do not want a bloodshed to happen in Georgian with the current events. I wish that sane and sober-minded people come to power there. We are sick and tired of talking to insane people, we want to deal with normal politicians who we can agree with on something. If sober-minded people come to power in Georgia, we will have talks with them. We are doomed to friendly neighbor relations. We should do our best to heal these wounds and tragic events of contemporary history. However, we cannot forget what we went through. We forgot what we were subjected to in early 20s, so, we got the genocide of 89-92 and 2008. We should remember these events, but at the same time, we should try to establish normal relations.
- IA “Baltiski Dom”: When will the construction of an airport begin? Who will be funding it and who will be the subcontractor?
- These are only plans. They have been voiced. I still do not know either the subcontractors or the real budget for the airport construction. There is a sum mentioned in the plans for 2009, about 150 mil for projecting. I cannot say more now. Anyway, there are many sites and building planned for reconstruction and in the course of the time, we will be ready to answer all questions. Today, the most important is to restore private housing not only in the city of Tskhinval, but also in rural areas, we should create normal conditions for citizens of South Ossetia.
- 21 Seculare: In January, «Human Rights Watch» published a report in which the organization criticized the actions of Russia and Georgia in August 2008. After that, a probe commission had been established to the parliament of Georgia. It did not happen here. What would be your comments?
- For this we need an actively working Parliament. This relates equally to the majority party “Yedinstvo”, the members of which had not been actively working. If it is always for the President to instruct, he cannot overtake the powers of the Parliament. Frankly, this is the weakest Parliament composition. I do not want to offend them, but they should accept the criticism. I am quite often asked by people to show them their district deputy. MPs are not conducting necessary work with their electorate. This is a serious shortcoming in their work together with the fact that we did not even start counting the damage. This is what we should do. If there are no enough local capacities for this, we will invite outside independent experts. But, today the most important is to build housing.
- IA ITAR-TASS: For quite a long time, South Ossetia is leaving and working without a prime-minister. Are there any nominees for this position?
- Why did you disregard the acting Prime-Minister? It is true, the problem is complicated. But Aslanbek Bulatsev is in grave health condition. I have lately met him. He has serious health problems. He is willing to help, but his health does not allow him get fully engaged and take up his duties. It is easy to assign a new prime-minister, but we will wait until there are developments in Bulatsev’s health state. Though, he had several times handed over his resignation.
- IA RES: The situation in Leningor district is becoming serious. Migration of population to Georgia had been observed, there are delayed salary payments. Are there priority steps and longer term actions to be taken to rehabilitate the situation?
- The infrastructure of Leningor district suffered less than elsewhere in South Ossetia, since there were no hostilities. This area had been under Goergian occupation since early 90s. Of course, the problems there are critical. There is a category of population who do not want to live in South Ossetia. They have already moved to Georgia, no one had ousted them from there. We can hardly call them refugees, as well as those who left the villages of Tamarasheni, Kekhvi and other settlements. There were hostilities, but give me an example of a civilian killed there. All civilians left these villages occupied by Georgian in July 2008. Only those who were fighting against us remained there. Artillery units were deployed there which were firing at Tskhinval and our villages. When retreating, they set their houses on fire. They also burnt down the Ossetian houses captured in 90s. How can we name them refugees? I can understand those not engaged in hostilities and who returned to Znaur district. These are our citizens who were residing on occupied territories. We should create normal conditions for them. All those willing to stay in Leningor district, will stay. The fact that there are delayed salary payments is explained with sluggishness of the local administration. We have already paid out 4-month salaries; we could not do the same for the last two months, since we had not yet received the previous financial reports. A group of government officials went there on 9 April to assess the situation so that we know where we have sent the salaries and pensions. We have enough funds to support the district but we are not going to waste our money. All ministers’ deputies went there. The delegation was headed by Finance Minister Inal Pukhaev. We should know the real number of residents there. We will also try to support entrepreneurs there and maintain the infrastructure which we took over and we are now having consultations with those people who these facilities belonged to before. It means, we are inviting them for cooperation and we’ll provide them with our support. This was our district and our citizens. I tasked the officials to get a real list of inhabitants, so that we would be able to send salaries and social allowances there.
- IA RES: Before August 2008 many officials in law enforcement bodies were confident about their defense capacities in case of a war. But in reality, the situation was different. Who is responsible for shortcomings in defense arrangements for the city and civilian population of South Ossetia?
- A good question. It would be good if we had established a similar parliament commission we mentioned above. I can say that come people are already held responsible. They were dismissed. These defense and law enforcement officials are not in the government anymore. I was visiting the positions and forced our defenders to build trenches while this should have been done by the Defense Minister, Secretary of State Security Council.
You’ve seen it all yourselves. Thanks to all journalists, who despite the heavy shelling, continued their work. They are heroes. I haven’t seen other ‘heroes’ when I was not hiding, but entered Tskhinval together with the 58th Army.
It is unacceptable in wartime. Either you fight or you’re engaged in populism. I will not allow anyone to depreciate the role of Ossetia’s defenders and stain our victory. This is my principal position.
