In relation to the second anniversary of the armed aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia
On7-8 August 2010, the Republic of South Ossetia is holding commemorating events devoted to the second anniversary of the Barbarian aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia. Two years ago, on the night of 7-8 August 2008, Georgian army encouraged and trained by American instructors, had perfidiously brought down all its military strengths over South Ossetia, having violated all norms of international law. In this aggression, prohibited weapons, including cluster bombs, volley fire systems, and 500-kg bombs, were massively used. As a result, hundreds of civilians were killed in Tskhinval, and surrounding villages and tens of Russian peacekeepers; the number of wounded and affected was much more. The scope of destruction was terrifying.
During those hard days, the courage of South Ossetia’s defenders, as well as resolute and prompt interference of Russia with its operation on forcing Georgia to peace, saved the people of South Ossetia from total extermination.
Two years after the Georgian aggression, South Ossetia is still facing major challenges and problems. The main is the revanche policy of Georgia. Despite the failure of the August venture, the authorities of Georgia did not learn any lessons and do not abandon the plans on forceful inclusion of South Ossetia into Georgia. Only legally-binding obligations on non-use of force may prevent repeated tragedy. Unfortunately, the authorities in Tbilisi reject to sign this crucial document, though the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan commits them to do so.
Today, it is already a fact that the international community got to know the truth about the events of August 2008 in South Ossetia. The EU-established Independent Fact-Finding Mission headed by Heidi Tagliavini to look into the events of 2008 August came to a conclusion that it was Georgia, who started the war against South Ossetia. The evaluation of the war in South Ossetia is a good opportunity to draw true conclusion in order to prevent reoccurrence of similar situation in other “hot spots”.
The Republic of South Ossetia is confident about its future as an independent recognized democratic state, the main vector of development of which is in peaceful co-existence and equal cooperation with all its neighbors. The rehabilitation of infrastructure and social sector destroyed and damaged during the 2008 war is actively ongoing now in the country.
Tskhinval, 6 August 2010
