PM: Tbilisi Expects Response Steps from Tskhinvali, Moscow

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on July 11 that the Georgian side expects the de facto authorities in South Ossetia to take adequate steps regarding the proposals which were pushed by President Saakashvili at the Batumi international conference on July 10 and which envisages a peaceful resolution to the South Ossetian conflict.

During the Georgian government-sponsored, two-day conference in Batumi, Adjara Autonomous Republic, which featured top-level Georgian officials, envoys from international organizations and dozens of local and international experts, the Georgian President said that Tbilisi is ready to grant South Ossetia ?absolute self-governance,? cultural autonomy, a ?privileged regime? of border crossing with Russia, as well as a privileged economic and tax system.

?The particular plan unveiled by the President is very important. Now, we expect a response from the South Ossetian de facto authorities, [as well as] from Russia and international organizations,? Zurab Nogaideli told reporters.

Authorities of breakaway South Ossetia boycotted the event and denounced it as ?a PR action? staged by the Georgian government. South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said in the interview with Rustavi 2 television on July 10 that he had not received an official invitation to the conference. 

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