Tskhinvali Hails Demilitarization, But Remains Cautious

On November 16 South Ossetian authorities reported that military fortifications near the Georgian village of Tamarasheni have been removed, as part of the demilitarization process of the conflict zone, envisaged by an agreement reached during the talks in Sochi between Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoev on November 5.

Dismantling of the fortifications in Tamarasheni was hailed by the South Ossetian authorities in a statement issued by the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee on November 16. But the South Ossetian side also expressed hope that ?this is not just one more show staged by the Georgian authorities for the international community.?

However, Boris Chochiev, who is the unrecognized republic?s Special Affairs Minister, told Itar-Tass news agency that parallel with removing fortifications, the Georgian side dispatched extra troops to the conflict zone.

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava, in turn, expressed protest regarding Russia?s moves to supply arms to the South Ossetian side.

?Despite the demilitarization process arms are still being delivered to South Ossetia,? he told reporters on November 16.

Meanwhile, South Ossetian de facto Deputy Defense Minister Ibragim Gasiyev said on November 16 that the Ossetian side is ready to withdraw its non-peacekeeping troops from the conflict zone, Russian news agency Interfax reports.
 
?After aggravation of the situation in the summer, 500 servicemen were deployed in the outskirts of Tskhinvali [South Ossetian capital]. We are ready to take into account the proposal of Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava and redeploy these troops in the Java district,? Ibragim Gasiyev said.