Brief interview
Question: The European Parliament support the main conclusions in the report of the EU-sponsored International Independent Fact-Finding Mission into the circumstances of the conflict in South Ossetia headed by Heidi Tagliavini. According to this report, Georgia started the war in South Ossetia. Do you expect that the conclusions of Tagliavini’s Mission would have any impact on the policies of the West to support current Georgian regime?
Murat Djioev, RSO Foreign Minister:
Naturally, South Ossetia was interested in the results of the work done by the EU International Fact-Finding Mission headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, to examine the events of 2008 August. The Mission had done an enormous work, it maintained contact with all the side involved in the war in August 2008. The hope for the professionalism of the Mission members and the objectivity of their conclusions proved right. In the report voiced in December 2009, and in the recent speeches in the PACE and US Congress, Ambassador Tagliavini had clearly stated Georgia’s and Georgian authorities’ responsibility for unleashing the war in August 2008. I would like to express the hope that eventually the international community will learn the truth and the Western protectors of Sakashvili’s regime will cease their support and supplies of weapons.
Batradz Kharebov, head of Information and Analytics Center to the RSO Parliament:
The conclusions of Tagliavini’s Mission are already known to the European Parliament and the official verdict of European parliamentarians was quite predictable. The Mission had thoroughly examined the circumstances under which the war in August 2008 began, and any other conclusion, than the one stating the obvious fact that Georgia had started the war, would discredit the Mission. As to the impact on the Western policy toward the Georgian regime, one can hardly expect quick changes. Before the aggression, during the hostilities, and in the course of the aftermath investigation of who the aggressor is, and who should be considered as the victim, the top officials of European structures had full picture of the events. I may assume that the conclusions suggested by Tagliavini could have certain impact on the public opinion in Europe, but they would not determine international policy.
Inal Pliev, Independent Expert:
I could have stated that it would be more problematic to European officials to explain to their peoples why they continued supporting aggressive Georgia against small people of democratic South Ossetia, but it would be wrong. In the West, the leaderships do not listen to their populations. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are hardly supported by the people of the states, the armed forces of which participate in these wars. It means nothing for the governments, the decision-makers. Only brutal military power matters. This is unfortunately the fact. The West is civilized and humane only to the extent of the military, economic and political potential of Russia. The rest is PR. If only the West thought that Russia was weak, there would be no room for humanity and civilized approach. It happened in 1812, in 1941 and 2008…
