The Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia Murat Dzhioev sent a letter to the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mr. Kanat Saudabayev with copies to Secretary General of OSCE
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Audronius Ajubalisu.
The letter reads:
"The OSCE over the years, starting from 1992, participated in the process of peaceful settlement of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict. However, another full-scale military aggression by Georgia against South Ossetia in August 2008, accompanied with cruel violence by Georgian forces against the peaceful population of South Ossetia, nullified the efforts made within the peace process. Only the operation on forcing the aggressor to peace held by the Russian Federation prevented graver consequences of the criminal venture of the Georgian authorities and broke down their plans to make South Ossetia a ''clear field''.
The EU independent mission established the fact of Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia, but the international community, including OSCE did not acknowledge Georgia responsible. Georgian leaders, refusing to acknowledge his guilt for the attack against South Ossetia and being confident in their impunity, continue to pursue aggressive plans against South Ossetia. By doing so, the Georgian authorities are trying to get the support of the international community, seeking recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as Georgian territories occupied by Russia, although such claims have no political or other grounds.
Georgia has never had a legitimate right to the territory of South Ossetia, which has been incorporated into the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1922 against the will of the Ossetian people. In the 20th century, Georgia had twice committed genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Ossetian people of South Ossetia in 1920 and 1989-1992. Throughout the period while South Ossetia was a part of the Georgian SSR, Tbilisi authorities pursued a policy of discrimination, cultural genocide, forced assimilation, suppression of rights and freedoms of the Ossetians. Public denunciation of all acts passed since 1921, Georgia in 1990 completely destroyed the state and legal grounds of South Ossetia’s being a part of it.
Under the armed aggression by Georgia, the establishment of the sovereign state of South Ossetia was the only way to ensure the right of our people to life, liberty, national and human dignity. The people of South Ossetia have repeatedly reaffirmed the will for independence in referenda in 1992, 2001, 2006. Thus, for over twenty years, the Republic of South Ossetia is an independent state, established in accordance with the will of its people after the collapse of the USSR exclusively within the frames lawful and democratic process. Power structures, legislative, executive and judiciary branches, democratically formed, exercise effective control throughout the state. There active political parties and public organizations to ensure respect of fundamental rights.
Recognition by the Russian Federation of the state independence of South Ossetia after the barbaric aggression of Georgia had been refuted guaranteed the security of South Ossetia and its right to develop freely. After August 2008, Russia and South Ossetia are building relations on the basis of international law. Russia is the only country to assist the people of South Ossetia, a real and effective assistance in addressing the devastating consequences of the Georgian aggression. With the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the security zone around South Ossetia October 8, 2008, Russia has fully met its obligations under Medvedev - Sarkozy agreements, and from that time, there are no Russian soldiers on the territory of neighboring Georgia. The presence of Russian troops on the territory of South Ossetia as a sovereign state is based on the bilateral Russian-South Ossetian agreements, and this cannot be regarded as''occupation'' or ''violation of the territorial integrity'' of Georgia, and the use of the wording ''the occupied Georgian territories'' in relation to South Ossetia is absolutely unfounded.
We believe that a misrepresentation of the situation in the country and the nature of the South Ossetians-Russian relations among many members of the international community is explained by the lack of international contacts and with the limited access of South Ossetia to international fora. Since August 2008 there is no legal basis for the presence of the OSCE on the territory of South Ossetia. However, guided by the adherence to peaceful settlement of international conflicts, attaching great importance to the Geneva discussions, co-chaired by the OSCE, and expressing its readiness to open dialogue with international organizations, the Republic of South Ossetia considers it appropriate to hold direct consultations on the modalities of cooperation with the OSCE.
Reaffirming the commitment to peace and stability in the region, considering that peace dialogue is the only way to resolve the existing contradictions, recognizing the importance of objective information, we consider it necessary to provide the representatives of the Republic of South Ossetia with the opportunity to attend OSCE headquarters meetings and speak to the organization member states when it comes to decisions related to South Ossetia. For its part, South Ossetia is ready and open to discuss any issues of common interest."
