State Minister: Demilitarization Halted in South Ossetia

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava said, while addressing the parliamentary session on February 24, that the demilitarization process in the South Ossetian conflict zone, agreed upon during a meeting between the unrecognized republic?s de facto President Eduard Kokoity and late Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania last November, has been halted.

?There is a pause [in the demilitarization process], the parties involved [in the conflict] are waiting for developments in the international arena, particularly, what Russia?s position will be, what the western countries? position will be and what the outcome of the disagreements between us and Russia over certain issues will be. Relations between Russia and Georgia will largely determine developments in South Ossetia. The South Ossetian side does not undertake a single step without prior consultations with Russia,? Goga Khaindrava said.

The State Minister also said that ?no shots have been heard recently? in the conflict zone.