The 32nd consolidated report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, "Conflict in Georgia," like previous documents, conveys a biased approach to the objective and impartial presentation of the situation in South Ossetia. This was stated in a commentary by the representative of the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry.
The report was considered on November 18 at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
"The report, in particular, reflects the 'concern' of the authorities of the neighboring country regarding the security situation, humanitarian conditions, and human rights in South Ossetia, the problem of the return of internally displaced persons and refugees, etc.", the statement reads.
The Foreign Ministry has noted that such reports are based solely on materials provided by Georgia, which are a priori false and completely devoid of objectivity, and the "experts" involved in their preparation have never been to South Ossetia and have no understanding of the true situation on the ground.
"We consider the position of the international organizations, which, contrary to common sense, continue to regard the Republic of South Ossetia as part of Georgia, supporting the utopian thesis of its so-called territorial integrity, to be completely illogical. Clearly, the adoption of such reports, which are purely populist in nature, is driven by a deliberate refusal to accept the prevailing realities," the Ministry has emphasized.
South Ossetia declared independence on May 29, 1992, in accordance with international law, and was recognized as such on August 26, 2008, by the Russian Federation – it is a state that has no connection to Georgia, the Foreign Ministry added.
Regarding the refugee issue, the Georgian side's politicized approach has already led to the suspension of discussions of this important humanitarian issue within the framework of the International Discussions on Security and Stability in Transcaucasia. Continuing this policy could devalue the goals of the existing negotiating format and completely block the preconditions for a settlement between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia.
