The top leaders of the Helsinki Commission have announced they will pose for pictures with Georgia President Saakashvili in Washington today. Though some may portray this event as “just a photo op” it unfortunately provides credibility for Georgia's leader, who has recently displayed some bizarre and un-statesmanlike behavior, including starting a war with the Republic of South Ossetia; unilaterally sending special forces to Ukraine to serve as observers; ordering children in his country to prepare for war; and sowing panic among his citizenry when he allowed a government-supported television station to broadcast a fake account of a Russian invasion of his country.
President Obama recently told President Saakashvili that the United States will not allow international isolation of Georgia. I suggest Helsinki Commission Chairman Benjamin Cardin and Co-Chair Alcee Hastings ask Mr. Saakashvili why he is doing everything possible to isolate the people of South Ossetia. Political and economic isolation seldom work in mitigating tensions or resolving conflict, a point made strongly by U.S. Vice President Biden to President Saakashvili many times. Yet, Mr. Saakashvili continues to threaten us by fomenting border provocations, which have resulted in the kidnapping of our citizens and discouraging others from economic or political engagement with our citizens. That only increases the determination of South Ossetians to never again be part of Georgia.
The Helsinki Commission's mission is security and cooperation in Europe. If its members are as interested in achieving that goal, as I believe they are, they should recognize that President Saakashvili and his policies pose the biggest threat to their mission and to the stability of my country. If they don't believe me, they should ask the thousands of Georgians who camped out in the streets of Tbilisi last year to protest Mr. Saakashvili's harsh oppression and undemocratic rule.
Eduard Kokoity
President of the Republic of South Ossetia
April 14, 2010
