Khaindrava: Georgian PM to Meet with South Ossetian Leader

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava, who is currently visiting Moscow, said in the interview with news agency RIA Novosti on September 9 that the issues of holding talks between South Ossetia leader Eduard Kokoity and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli has been agreed. 

?I held talks with Eduard Kokoity on Friday [September 9] and the issue of holding talks with the Georgian Prime Minister can be considered as agreed. We will define a technical side, when and in which format the talks will be held,? Khaindrava said.

?Probably, it [talks] will be held before the session of the Joint Control Commission [quadripartite commission involving Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian sides] planned for September 20 in Vladikavkaz [Russia?s North Ossetian capital],? Khaindrava added.

He also said that meeting between the South Ossetian leader and Georgian Prime Minister can not be dragged out.

?We have announced about the meeting four months ago. There are a great deal of issues, which should be discussed, there are agreements, which should be implemented, there is a concern in the region that should be settled,? Khaindrava said.

The Georgian State Minister said that during his visit to Moscow he aimed at finding out Russia?s position over South Ossetian peace process. He said that the status quo in the conflict zones is unacceptable for Tbilisi.

He strongly denied the South Ossetian authorities? allegations that Tbilisi wants to solve conflict forcefully.  ?We do not intend to act so. This will be catastrophic for us,? Khaindrava said.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)