South Ossetian Leader Warns of Provocations
In an interview with the Russian newspaper Vremya Novostey published on September 16, South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity blamed the Georgian special services for masterminding ?terrorist acts against Georgian servicemen in an attempt to provoke a conflict? on the eve of 15th anniversary of ?South Ossetia?s independence? on September 20.
?We should worry about Georgia?s militarization. Georgia is the most militarized country in the post-Soviet space? We have reduced our armed forces by 50% in an attempt to defuse tensions. Georgian special services are behind those provocations, including the abduction of people, which occur in the conflict zone. Currently, these special services [groups] are masterminding terrorist acts against the Georgian servicemen [Georgian peacekeepers stationed in the conflict zone] on our territory in order to provoke a conflict. But we will let no one thwart our celebrations [scheduled for September 19-20 to mark the unrecognized republic?s independence],? Eduard Kokoity said.
He said that South Ossetia expects delegations from Russia, breakaway Transdnestria and Abkhazia to participate in the celebrations.
?Abkhaz President Sergey Bagapsh will arrive [in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali] on September 18. We will sign an agreement on cooperation?. which will mainly envisage [cooperation in the spheres of] economy, culture and science,? he added.
He also said that South Ossetia?s foreign policy priorities have not changed and international recognition followed by joining Russia?s North Ossetian Republic is the unrecognized republic?s major goal.
Kokoity also said that Tbilisi?s peace proposals, envisaging broad autonomy for South Ossetian within the Georgian state ?lack constructivism? and serves merely as a ?PR campaign? to please the western countries.
?Enough of the PR for the eyes of the West. Even in the West there are some organizations which are interested in a clash against Georgian and Ossetian people? Enough of listening to the opinions of those people who do not know our mentality, our relations,? the South Ossetian leader said.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
