Political Tension – a Blow for Ossetian, Georgian NGO Cooperation
The recent developments in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia, particularly armed conflicts between the Georgian and Ossetian sides in August, which led to casualties from the both sides, have negatively affected the relationship between the Georgian and South Ossetian non-governmental organizations. As a result, this cooperation, which was developing for past decade has practically been suspended.
“It is very difficult for a Georgian to enter Tskhinvali, work there and feel safe. The trust, which existed for past fourteen years, has been lost. Moreover, the safety of those who arrive from Tskhinvali is not guaranteed as well,” Irina Tsintsadze of the civil development center Alternative says.
The non-governmental sector of breakaway South Ossetia has a strong sense of disappointment regarding their Georgian colleagues. Petre Gasiyev, leader of the Tskhinvali-based KORD-2000 Association, states that the Georgian non-governmental organizations have not expressed their common vision and approach towards the conflict.
“The cooperation between the most of the [Ossetian and Georgian] organizations has been suspended. This is caused not by tense situation, but mainly by the passive attitude of the Georgian NGOs towards this conflict,” Petre Gasiyev says.
He said, the Georgian NGOs have simply “self-isolated from the conflict,” they did not consider the conflict to be their own problem or a problem, which needed their support. Subsequently, many South Ossetian organizations ceased links with the Georgian non-governmental sector.
“I think links between the South Ossetian and Georgian non-governmental organizations will not be restored in the near future,” Petre Gasiyev added.
The situation was completely different until the aggravation of the political situation in the conflict area in August.
“Within years we had good, business relations with the Tskhinvali-based non-governmental organizations. Many people worked there, with whom we could find common language,” Gogi Khutsishvili, the director of the International Center for Conflicts and Negotiations (ICCN) said.
“Practically the trust was restored. The both sides were ready to work and implement joint projects aiming at development of the non-governmental sector and media,” Irina Tsintsadze says.
It is worth noting that in mid-May, when the situation started to tense in the conflict area, the U.S. Institute for Peace (USIP) funded a project, which envisaged exchange of staff between the Georgian and South Ossetian non-governmental organizations. By the way, this would have been the first precedent, since previously only the representatives of the South Ossetian side used to arrive in Tbilisi and undergo internship in the Georgian NGOs. However, the project has been suspended.
“We have suspended the project ourselves, since it was doomed for failure, because of increasing tension in the region,” Irina Tsintsadze said.
Recent developments might trigger certain shifts in the policy of those Georgian NGOs, which have experience of cooperation with the Ossetian counterparts. “We always worked to make the other side [the South Ossetian side] love us, while no opposite work was ever done. As a result, it appeared that the South Ossetian society is more open than ours,” Irina Tsintsadze says.
Confidence building between the sides is a top priority at the moment and donor organizations express readiness to fund activities for these purpose. Davit Darchiashvili of the Open Society – Georgian Foundation says: “Particular measures and meetings will be held. Practical assistance will be rendered to particular groups, organizations, educational institutions, children’s meetings, dialogues on political themes will be held. We are ready for all these; however we should be convinced that all these measures have a real result.”
