Kokoity Wants to Discuss Security Guarantees with Georgian PM

South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said in an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti on August 31 that the sides are currently working arranging talks between him and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli. He said that security guarantees will the most important issue for the South Ossetian side during these possible talks.

?We want the South Ossetian and Georgian people to receive security guarantees from these talks, as well as to stop provocative actions [against South Ossetia],? Kokoity said, but added, that ?if Georgia wants to carry out another PR action [with these talks], then we of course will not let them to do so.?

?South Ossetia is determined to solve the conflict peacefully. But we consider the steps undertaken by the Georgian side to discredit our Republic as outrageous and counterproductive,? Kokoity said, referring to Georgian Interior Ministry?s accusations, which claims that February 3 car bomb explosion in Gori was masterminded by a group of Ossetian saboteurs who were trained by Russian military intelligence operatives in South Ossetia.

?Why did we need to explode the police office in Gori if we could have damaged important communication infrastructure in the close vicinity of border [with Georgia]?? Kokoity said.

The South Ossetian leader also said that Georgia should acknowledge the ?genocide? it perpetrated against the South Ossetian people to foster the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

?Georgia should assess and condemn the nationalistic policy which prevailed there during the communism, under [late Georgian President Zviad] Gamsakhurdia [in early 90s] and even now during the presidency of democrat [Mikheil] Saakashvili,? Eduard Kokoity said.

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