Leading MPs Slam Peacekeepers, JCC for ?Inefficiency?

Leading MPs from the ruling National Movement party Givi Targamadze, Kote Gabashvili, Giga Bokeria and Nika Rurua slammed the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in the South Ossetian and Abkhaz conflict zones and the Joint Control Commission (JCC) over South Ossetian conflict resolution for their “inefficiency.”

The MPs reiterated that the government should report to the Parliament by February 10, 2006 about the peace process in the South Ossetian conflict zone, as envisaged by a resolution passed by the Georgian Parliament on October 10, 2005. If the Parliament decides that no progress has been made, the lawmakers will demand that the peacekeepers begin withdrawing from February 15.

?However, we are not hopeful that in these three weeks [until February 10] something will change for the better,? MP Kote Gabashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Relations, said at a joint news briefing on January 20.

?Russia?s political stance towards the conflicts is more aggressive than peacekeeping. It uses these conflicts for political pressure and for implementation its strategic interests. Therefore, the only way to continue the peacekeeping process lies through the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeepers from Georgia,? MP Giga Bokeria said.

The MPs also criticized the activities of the Joint Control Commission as ?absolutely incapable.?

?As soon as the JCC intends to make a decision external forces immediately interfere in its activities, trying to destabilize it. Naturally, this format should be changed,? Kote Gabashvili said.

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