Saakashvili Speaks of Secessionist Conflicts
In an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio station on January 27 President Saakashvili said that Tbilisi will not ignore the “historic role” Russia has in the process of resolution of the Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts.
“We will never neglect this role. But naturally, this role should be positive. I hope that Russia will have enough political recourse to play a positive role, because it is not in Russia”s interests to have destabilization in the South Caucasus,” Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili said he plans to convene a session of the Georgian National Security Council soon with the participation of opposition politicians to discuss Tbilisi”s strategy over the secessionist conflicts.
He said that the Georgian side is ready to offer Abkhazia “broad autonomy with full self-governance” based on federal principles.
“This is a matter of negotiations. Please, come and speak with me. If you do not want to come here, then I will come and explain everything to you [the Abkhaz side]. If you do not want to talk with me, let people arrive and establish contacts,” Saakashvili said, referring to the Abkhaz authorities.
He said that part of Abkhazia is now controlled by “the legitimate authorities of Abkhazia” which are based in upper Kodori Gorge.
“We would like to offer to those who are now in control of rest of Abkhazia, to offer our very serious proposal and to immediately launch a dialogue with them without any mediators, although we welcome the constructive role of all mediators,” Saakashvili said.
He said a problem of isolation prevails with Abkhazia and there is lack of direct contact between the Abkhaz and Georgian people.
Saakashvili said that there is no problem with ethnic conflict in the case of South Ossetia, as Georgians and Ossetians are much more closely linked than in the case of Abkhazia.
He also underlined that he was the first Georgian leader who has used the term “South Ossetia.” Many in Georgia refer to the region as Samachablo or the Tskhinvali Region in order to avoid recognizing any links with Russia”s North Ossetian Republic.
“Before I took power in Georgia it was regarded in Georgian politics that use of the term “South Ossetia” was equal to political suicide… I was the first to use this term, I was the first to offer the Ossetians autonomy, although this kind of proposal was always regarded to be dangerous [in Georgia],” Saakashvili said.
“We have firm plans on the unification of Georgia, but this means the unification of Georgia around an idea of multinational, multicultural, multi-religious, multi-confessional cooperation among all the citizens of Georgia,” he added.
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