Kokoity Asks for Security Guarantees, Plays on Russian Fears

Leader of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity asked for “solid security guarantees” from Georgia, while meeting the Russian special envoy Valery Keinyakin on September 23, Regnum reports.

Kokoity condemned the shelling of the outskirts of Tskinvali on September 20 and said Georgia “should acknowledge the fact [that they target] the peaceful population.” He said South Ossetia “recognizes the unique character of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) in regulating the conflict.”

The JCC is a quadripartite arrangement involving Georgia, Russia, South Ossetia and North Ossetia (Russia) in peacekeeping process. Georgia is calling for a revision of the format of the JCC, arguing that Russia is overrepresented within the commission.

Kokoity also played on Russian fears of internationalization of the peace process saying “[political] attacks [by the Georgian side] on peacekeepers and use of the armament of NATO countries during the shelling proves an attempt to push out Russia [from the peace process] and the unwillingness [of Georgia] to continue the negotiations.”

The South Ossetian leader offered two preconditions for meeting with Georgian Prime-Minister Zurab Nogaideli: “ceasing of the unfounded blame shifting to the pecekeepers” and “solid guarantees of security and the non-resumption of military hostilities.”

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