JCC at Odds over Controversial Georgian Commander

A session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC) over South Ossetian conflict, which is scheduled to start in Tskhinvali on September 15, appeared to be on the verge of thwarting, as a result of a controversy triggered by Commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion Paata Bedianashvili, the Georgian media sources reported.

Bedianashvili was appointed as the commander of the Georgian peacekeeping battalion, which is part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (JPKF) stationed in the conflict zone (Russian and Ossetian battalions are also part of the JPKF) last August. But the South Ossetian side refuses to give Bedianashvili an entry to Tskhinvali, where JPKF headquarters is located, citing that he was among ?the organizers and active participants of Georgia?s military aggression against South Ossetia? in the summer, 2004.

?We have agreed yesterday the agenda of [JCC] session. The first issue in the agenda is discussion of recent developments in the conflict zone, including the helicopter incident and clash, when the policemen were killed, as well as issues of presence of trenches and heavy armament? But unfortunately we have failed to receive security guarantees for a member of our delegation, I mean, commander of our peacekeeping battalion [Paata Bedianashvili], who was expected to make a report about the first issue of the agenda [at the JCC session],? Merab Antadze, the Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues, told reporters outside Tskhinvali on September 15.

Antadze said that Bedianashvili is a member of the Georgian delegation who took part in the first round of the 51st JCC session in Moscow on August 17-18. Session in Tskhinvali is regarded to be the second round of the Moscow talks.

He said that refusal by the South Ossetia side to let Bedianashvili to participate in talks in Tskhinvali, will be considered as an attempt ?to deliberately thwart the session.?

Merab Antadze was in Tskhinvali on September 14 to agree agenda of the session.

The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported on September 14 that the sides agreed on the following agenda: 1. report by the JPKF Commander Marat Kulakhmetov about situation in the conflict zone; 2. report by the representatives from OSCE about measures to implement economic rehabilitation program; 3. cooperation between the law enforcement agencies; 4. joint measures to develop agreed program on peaceful resolution of the conflict.

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