Moscow Accuses Tbilisi of Fueling Tensions in S.Ossetia

In an information note issued on December 5 the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) accused the Georgian side of fueling tensions in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

?According to the reports from South Ossetia, tensions have been sparked regularly in recent months in the conflict zone. Attacks and shootings aimed at the South Ossetian checkpoints by the Georgian side, blocking of traffic on the Trans Caucasus Highway [the major road in the conflict zone]? have been observed in recent days,? the Russian Foreign Ministry?s information note issued on December 5 reads.

?The above listed actions are accompanied by threats and accusations in addresses by the South Ossetian leadership and Russian peacekeeping forces,?

?Moreover, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili stated in an interview with one of the Georgian television stations [Rustavi 2 on November 25], that President of South Ossetia [Eduard Kokoity], head of government of South Ossetia [Yuri Morozov], South Ossetian Defense Minister [Anatoly Barankevich] and other officials of the unrecognized republic ‘will be either punished for crimes they have committed, or they will not be alive.’ All this looks like a call for political assassinations,? the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

The information note also says that these actions, directed ?at fueling tensions,? are taking place against the background of Tbilisi?s ?intensive efforts to push the European capitals’ draft plan on resolution of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.?

?Taking into account this tendency of growing tensions, the possibility of convening a session of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) in Tskhinvali [the South Ossetian capital] to discuss the current situation is under consideration at the moment ,?

?All these [developments], unfortunately, further move the launch of real work on conflict resolution far into the future,? the Russian MFA stated.

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