S.Ossetian Leader Comments on Georgian Police Roundup

South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity condemned on Sunday arrest of dozens of Ossetians by the Georgian law enforcers in the conflict zone on May 27 and called for an emergency session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission, which oversees ceasefire in the conflict zone, the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.

“We have all witnessed well-planned action [of the Georgian law enforcement agencies]. Under the command of the United States, Georgia is planning steps aimed at destabilization of situation in the conflict zone. All these are directed against both South Ossetia and Russia. We should not yield to provocations and at the same time we should maintain high combat readiness,” Kokoity said while meeting with leadership of the South Ossetian law enforcement agencies in Tskhinvali on May 28.

“We should do everything in order to prevent detention of our citizens by the Georgian units, which are illegally operating here. This is an instruction to everyone: arrest everyone whose presence is unauthorized in the conflict zone and in case of resistance destroy them. We do not need war; [Georgian President] Saakashvili and [Georgian Defense Minister Irakli] Okruashvili need it, because they have exhausted themselves as political leaders. The only thing remaining for them is to build their policy on blood,” Kokoity said.

He also said that the South Ossetian law enforcement agencies should also provide security to ethnic Georgians living in South Ossetia.

Kokoity also condemned Tbilisi’s refusal to sign an agreement on non-resumption of hostilities. Officials in Tbilisi say that the Georgian side has already provided its security guarantees through proposing its peace plan over South Ossetian conflict resolution.