Comment by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Murat Dzhioev to News Agency, "Res" in connection with the speech of the President of Georgia in the European Parliament.
The speech of the President Saakashvili of Georgia to the European parliamentarians was another PR-action to vindicate himself in front of the West after the events of August 2008. At that time, the whole world leant that Georgia started the aggression against South Ossetia, and for the West, Saakashvili became an unwelcome president. Now, there are attempts of Georgia's supporters to bring him back to the stage. Saakashvili is responsible for August 2008. His statement that Georgia would not use force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia is nothing but a nice declaration. Before August 2008, Georgia has made similar statements many times, but in August 2008 they were completely broken.
If Georgia really wants to normalize relations with South Ossetia by peaceful means, it should engage in dialogue with South Ossetia, and to sign a legally binding document on the nonuse of force. Saakashvili uses the disposition that a repeated lie starts resembling the truth. He once again called on Europe to put pressure on Russia and to recognize the presence of Russian troops on the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as "occupation" of Georgian territory. In fact, Russian troops are stationed on the territory of South Ossetia on the basis of bilateral agreements between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation in full accordance with international law. These forces' presence has nothing to do with the territory of Georgia.
