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Tuesday,
July 31,
2007, #144 (1411)
The second session of Tbilisi's South Ossetia status determination commission opened to the Georgian anthem in the conflict zone village of Tamarasheni on July 28. The chair of the commission, Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, announced that the five sub-groups of the commission-economy, finance, culture, education and justice-would be led by their respective Georgian ministers. "[Our] tasks are divided into two parts. The first is strategic aims, the central and regional determination of authority, and the second is to determine the current issues which will soon develop in the region," Noghaideli said. South Ossetia's representation in the commission came from the Tbilisi-backed temporary administrative unit based in nearby Kurta. "The future of South Ossetia is determined within Georgia. …We know that this is our country," said the head of the Kurta administration, Dmitry Sanakoyev. Tbilisi asked both Russia and the EU to sit on the commission. Secessionist officials in Tskhinvali reacted to the news by blasting Sanakoyev and his administration as betrayers to his people. The prime minister publicly held out hope that Tskhinvali residents and Russia would eventually have some participation in the commission. "It will be very important for us to have participation from the people of Tskhinvali. Maybe they won't be able to take part in the commission formally, but we will ensure a consultation process. We also are waiting for an answer from the Russian side," Noghaideli said after the July 28 session. Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko said on July 27 that he doubted Russia would be involved in the commission. Political opposition parties have also largely declined to take part, with exception of the Republican Party. Their representatives say it makes sense for them to have a seat on the commission, as their party has a long history of working on conflict resolution. "Maybe you don't like some things in the process, but you will be able to express your ideas," Republican Party MP Ivliane Khaindrava commented. The commission's next session is scheduled for August 15 in Tbilisi. "Every sub-group is already complete, and the leaders have presented the priorities for their future work. We are expecting the first results by August 15," said the State Minister for Conflict Resolution, Davit Bakradze. One of the commission's tasks will be to decide just what to call the region. They've signalled that the term 'South Ossetia' will be the official pick, although many Georgians currently refer to the area as the Tskhinvali region. The fear is that using 'South Ossetia' promotes the notion of a separate Ossetian identity and nation. "I call on you to use 'South Ossetia' and not 'Tskhinvali region' in order to make this term more acceptable to the Georgian public," said Uruzmag Karkusov, a top official in the Kurta administration, speaking with Georgian media. Salome Zourabichvili, leader of the opposition political movement Georgia's Way, came down against using the name South Ossetia, claiming it could only serve to fan the flames of confrontation in the future. "This name is groundless," she told the Messenger. Georgia's Way, Zourabichvili said, did not receive any formal invitation to join the commission, although Tbilisi officials had earlier announced that all were welcome. She added, though, that she would spurn any offer to participate in "this big lie." "There is nothing new…We control the territory which we controlled before. In [Tskhinvali] it's the same situation. There is a de facto government which profits from Russia's support," Zourabichvili said. The former foreign minister claimed that US support for conflict resolution efforts have dwindled to rhetoric alone, leaving negotiations between Tbilisi and Moscow the only way forward. "If Russia demands that Kokoity leave and Sanakoyev take his place, then there will be a completely different situation. And this would mean that Russia gives us their consent. But, on the other hand, if we accept everything from Russia so easily, it means that we gave something in exchange," Zourabichvili said.
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South Ossetia
commission convenes in the conflict zone
