Georgian Official: Moscow Sends Military Equipment to S.Ossetia

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava sent a letter on June 3 to the Russian Foreign Ministry and co-chairmen of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), which oversees the ceasefire in the South Ossetian conflict zone, expressing protest against the delivery of Russian humanitarian aid worth approximately USD 2 million, which also included military equipment. The Moscow Mayor?s Office contributed this humanitarian aid. 

?Military vehicles, field kitchens, tents, uniforms … This list cannot belong to the freight meant for a peaceful population. So it seems that under the pretext of humanitarian aid, the Russian side is strengthening the military potential of the separatist region,? an information note issued by the Georgian State Minister?s administration reads.

In the letter sent to the JCC, State Minister Khaindrava says that the Georgian side welcomes Russia?s desire to assist the population of the breakaway region, ?but not with military equipment.?

Khaindrava also says that Russia should follow international norms and inform the Georgian side in advance about any intention to send humanitarian aid to the secessionist region. He also stressed that humanitarian aid from Russia should go to South Ossetia only through those customs checkpoints which are under the control of the Georgian authorities and not through the Roki Pass. A tunnel through this pass links Russia with breakaway South Ossetia and enables the secessionist region to import goods from Russia directly, bypassing official Georgian border entries.

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