Georgia held parliamentary elections in which has won the opposition party "Georgian Dream", led by Bidzina Ivanishvili.
South Ossetia had been observing the elections with interest. We have asked the RSO Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev to comment how the outcome of the political processes in the neighboring country will affect the relations between South Ossetia and Georgia, and what are the prospects of development of relations between Georgia and South Ossetia:
- Parliamentary election in Georgia, first of all, is the affair of the people of Georgia. But as far as the relationship between South Ossetia and Georgia is not settled yet, of course, we cannot help being interested in it. First of all, the results of the elections suggest that the people of Georgia are tired of Mr. Saakashvili's government, of the position they have been over the years, and, I think, the current choice was made after careful consideration and with the hope for a better future.
With regard to relations between South Ossetia and Georgia, we have repeatedly stated and declare again that we are for the settlement of our bilateral relations on an equal basis in a peaceful negotiation, and we will work with any authority of Georgia, which recognizes the Republic of South Ossetia and admits responsibility of Georgia for the aggression against South Ossetia. Here, above all, we must proceed from the interests of ordinary people, the people of South Ossetia and neighboring Georgia, and in the interests of the people to strive for peace in the region, good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations.
In the near future a new round of the Geneva discussions will be held, and regardless of composition of the Georgian delegation, the South Ossetian delegation will categorically raise the question on drafting a document on the non-use of force.
In accordance with the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreements, the main purpose of the Geneva talks is to establish security for South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It is important to have guarantees of non-aggression by Georgia. We have repeatedly stated and will insist that the main objective of the Geneva discussions is preparations for the signing of documents, legally binding not to use force in the settlement of relations between Georgia and South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia. I want to believe that the new government of Georgia will react on this question with more rational approach and will not proceed from the positions to which were adhering the Georgian authorities till the current parliamentary elections, that is, a refusal to draft the document, and I hope that the work on the document, legally binding not to use force, will go at a rapid pace.
At one time presidents of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the Georgian leader Saakashvili made unilateral declarations on non-use of force. The people of South Ossetia do not believe the unilateral declarations and promises of the Georgian authorities, particularly Saakashvili, however, we believe that should be drafted and signed a document by heads of our states - South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia, which will be a legally binding for all the signatories of this document.
