The Chairman of the State Committee of Information and Press of South Ossetia Vyacheslav Gobozov made a report at the international theoretical and practical conference "The geopolitical results of the "August War": Lessons and Challenges ", organized by the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies.
He gave the forum participants words of welcome and fruitful work from the President of the Republic of South Ossetia, Leonid Tibilov.
"The head of the South Ossetian government highly appreciates the fact of holding this conference, as well as other similar activities, to comprehend and analyze the current geopolitical trends in general, the problems of such a significant region as the Caucasus, in particular, and what is especially important to us, the processes underway in the Republic of South Ossetia and around it,"- said Gobozov.
He has reminded that a month ago in Tskhinval was held the international conference "The August aggression of Georgia and the recognition of the state independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by the Russian Federation, geopolitical consequences, lessons and conclusions," timed to the fifth anniversary of the August events.
"Some of our colleagues took part in that event - continued Gobozov. - Today we can continue our conversation, the main purpose of which is to comprehend the results of the events taken place five years ago, to analyze the current stage of relations between Russia, Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the influence of other geopolitical players on these processes."
The head of the information agency of South Ossetia has noted that there was reached a preliminary agreement with the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies that the reports of both conferences will be published as a single collection, which apparently is naturally enough and logical.
Vyacheslav Gobozov has noted several aspects of the geopolitical results of the August Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia and the subsequent operation to force the aggressor to peace, as well as the recognition of the state independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia. He has stressed that "August 2008 became a certain kind of Rubicon, after which it has finally become clear that the decline of the unipolar world has not occurred yet, but, in any case, it is not far off."
The past five years have clearly demonstrated that "the decisions and actions taken by the then leadership of Russia, were the only right and non-alternative."
However, even today there are people who try to question the legality of Russian interference in those events. In this regard, the head of the information agency of the RSO has emphasized that Russia initially had the right, as a well as the obligation to actively participate in these processes.
"As a legal successor of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, Russia could not help feeling a certain historical and legal responsibility for the division of Ossetia, since Ossetia had become part of the Russian Empire as a single state, and was divided into the North and South only later by efforts of the imperial administration and the Bolshevik leaders. As a responsible country, Russia could not keep itself aloof from the events taking place in South Ossetia ", - said Gobozov.
Besides Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia fully complies with international law, as "the formation and legal registration of the Republic of South Ossetia happened before the international recognition of the current state of Georgia, before it`s joining the UN and the entry of Georgia into the CIS".
Gobozov has also stressed that the recognition of South Ossetia was "the only true and vital decision in terms of historical perspective, "since the "divorce" between Georgia and South Ossetia was historically inevitable.
"The Georgian- South Ossetian "hostel," as vividly evidenced by centuries of experience, was possible only under the totalitarian system, resorting to repressions, of course, against South Ossetia. In any other situation so unnatural alliance would have not future" - said the head of the South Ossetian news agency.
Referring to the illusions generated in certain circles by coming to power in Georgia of the
"Georgian Dream" and the so-called Russian- Georgian "thaw," Gobozov said: "The leaders of the "Georgian Dream," as well as the previous rulers of this country, need the improvement of relations with Russia in order to help them to return South Ossetia and Abkhazia into Georgia. And this is a very dangerous illusion, because the entry of South Ossetia into Georgia is impossible. The independence policy of South Ossetia, development of its statehood, and full integration with Russia – it is non-alternative. This course will never change and does not depend on the forces in power in Georgia or as a result of persuasion of friends and threats of enemies, or due to any external pressure. "
The Chairman of the State Committee of Information and Press of South Ossetia has focused on the terminology used in describing the events of August 2008. According to him, even Russian political scientists and journalists often make such definitions as the " five-days war", " the Russian- Georgian war," etc.
"It is not as harmless as it may seem , because it is directed to represent Russia as an aggressor, which annexed part of the territory of another state," - said Gobozov .
"There was not the "five-day," the "August," the "Russian-Georgian" war," etc. There was 18 -year-old Georgian aggression against South Ossetia, the culmination of which became the "Clean field" and the Russian operation to force the aggressor to peace. So I would encourage all those involved in this issue, to take into consideration this and other not so harmless terminological nuances, "- said Gobozov.
He has added that the past five years were not easy for South Ossetia. The way of building the independent state was not without omissions and errors. Many problems are facing the young state today. Most of these problems, according to Gobozov, are well known, the wide discussion of the ways of solving them is even outside South Ossetia. "We `d like to involve in the discussion of the processes taking place in South Ossetia more competent, unbiased scholars , political scientists and public figures. "
According to Gobozov, in the process of creating an objective, positive image of the Republic of South Ossetia "much greater significance will have not the propaganda publications, but materials, speeches and writings, which contain the competent, objective analysis of the hard, contradictory process of state-building, which is currently underway in the Republic of South Ossetia."
"We are firmly convinced that building the independent, viable and democratic state is a grand historical task, and people of the Republic of South Ossetia Ossetian will cope with this task, which is gradually becoming the Ossetian national idea. And we are grateful to everyone who is with us ", - said Vyacheslav Gobozov.
Concluding his speech, the Chairman of the State Committee of Information and Press of South Ossetia wished the conference fruitful work and assured them that he was going to actively participate "in our today's conference, as well as in other similar forums in the future."
