The Georgian authorities, taking advantage of the fact that they have access to all international platforms, continue to create a completely distorted view of South Ossetia among the international community, said Presidential Plenipotentiary for Post-Conflict Settlement Murat Dzhioev, commenting on a statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Maria Peichinovich-Burich.
"Compassion" in Georgian
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Peychinovich-Burich met with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani during a visit to Tbilisi. At a briefing after the meeting, she expressed concern about “certain security issues and the humanitarian situation in these territories.”
According to news agencies, “Peichinovich-Burich informed that the Council of Europe continues to monitor the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. She reminded that once in six months the Council of Europe prepares a consolidated report on this issue. However, she has expressed hope that the consideration of the new report will contribute to a peaceful resolution of the situation. “This is important both for Georgia and for Europe,” the CoE Secretary General quotes.
In turn, the Georgian Foreign Minister said at a briefing that he had informed the Secretary General in detail about the “difficult situation” in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in terms of human rights and humanitarian issues.”
Optical illusions
Murat Dzhioev has reminded that at the meetings with representatives of some states and international organizations, especially during the visits of distinguished guests to Georgia, arranging them "excursions to the border", the Georgian authorities impose on everyone their own, basically, upside-down view of the situation in South Ossetia and its borders with Georgia. "And often it turns out that representatives of the international community, without going into the clarification of the realities, give the Georgian distorted view of the "difficult situation" for their own, and thus themselves being mistaken and misleading others.
So, the other day, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, having visited Georgia, was “concerned about the humanitarian situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, after she was informed in detail about the “difficult situation” in these republics. She has reminded once in six months a consolidated report is made in the Council of Europe, in which there is an assessment of the situation,” the Ambassador said.
A new report is now being prepared, and according to Dzhioev, it is not difficult to assume it`s content, especially considering Georgia’s entry into the presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for six months. “After all, these reports are prepared on the Georgian material and the EU rapporteurs have never visited South Ossetia and did not see the humanitarian situation in the Republic from the inside. The notorious Georgian law "On the Occupied Territories" does not allow foreigners to visit South Ossetia on the only really functioning road from Russia, and in the West, they do not bother themselves, being content with what Georgia is submitting to them. In this regard, I am reminding again l that the authorities of South Ossetia have repeatedly invited and invite representatives of international communities to visit South Ossetia in order to have a real idea of socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the Republic,” the diplomat emphasized.
The Envoy has noted with regret that the policy of double standards continues to operate in the world. "Otherwise, how can it be regarded that when Georgia was admitted to the Council of Europe, it was obliged to fulfill several conditions, of which it has ignored at least two – Meskhetian Turks were not returned to Georgia and the law on restitution of property of refugees and internally displaced persons adopted under European pressure was not fulfilled, and, nevertheless, Georgia is in favor with the Council of Europe," Murat Dzhioev added.
