S.Ossetian Minister: Tskhinvali Takes Break, Defines Strategy

South Ossetian chief negotiator Boris Chochiev reiterated in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency on September 26 that South Ossetia will not take part in the session of the Joint Control Commission (JCC).

?The reason behind this decision is that the Georgian side has not yet recognized its involvement in the Tskhinvali shelling [on September 20],? said Chochiev, who is the unrecognized republic?s Special Affairs Minister and representative of the South Ossetian side in the JCC.

South Ossetian officials announced after a mortar attack on Tskhinvali injured ten civilians that they will not participate in any session of the JCC until the Georgian side officially apologizes for the incident.

But Boris Chochiev said that this refusal should not be regarded as South Ossetia?s rejection of all talks.

?South Ossetia needs a small pause to understand what the Georgian side wants and then define its [South Ossetian] tactics and strategy,? he added.

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