Khaindrava Hints at Resignation

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava suggested on September 21 that he would consider resignation if the Georgian and South Ossetian sides fail to defuse tensions in the conflict zone.

?The upcoming days and how the situation will develop [in the conflict zone] will largely determine whether I will stay at my position or not. We are demanding that a session of the Joint Control Commission [JCC, which oversees ceasefire in South Ossetia] promptly be held. The results of this session will also determine whether I will stay or not. If my colleagues [from the JCC] do not agree to make our work more effective, naturally I will fail to do it alone,? Khaindrava said.

Khaindrava was speaking with reporters after a governmental session. Before the session he condemned the shelling of the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali on September 20 and demanded a prompt investigation into the case.

The South Ossetian side has already announced that it will not participate in the JCC session which was scheduled in North Ossetian capital Vladikavkaz on September 23-24, until official Tbilisi apologizes for shelling Tskhinvali.

But Giorgi Khaindrava said that the case should first be investigated to find out who opened fire; meanwhile he called on his South Ossetian colleagues to hold the JCC session in an attempt to defuse tensions.

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