STATEMENT OF PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA

The Parliament of Georgia is carefully watching the situation, which has recently been created in the former Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia.

The Georgian Parliament would like to note with anxiety that the as a result of the aggressive and provocative statements by the former Commander of peacemaking force of Russia in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict made on May 31, the goal of was to maintain the regime that supported movement of illegal and smuggled goods (cargo) in the region, seriously exerted the situation. Fortunately, due to active, deliberate and coordinated actions of the Georgian authorities, who were supported by the significant part of the population of the region, it became possible to improve and stabilize the situation thereof. The parliament welcomes the above-noted fact and declares that in future too, it will support introduction of strict restrictions on those smuggled goods (cargo) that enter Georgia not only via the territory of South Ossetia but also other regions and undermine the economic safety of the country.

The Georgian Parliament expresses it protest with regard to the fact that took place in June 1, 2004 when the wife of President of Georgia, who was going to the village of Tamarasheni with the humanitarian mission, and the members of the Parliament and a representatives of the cultural sector who were following her, were rejected to move on the territory of the former South Ossetian Territory in an aggressive and humiliating manner. The Parliament calls all political forces operating in the region, who, for personal purposes, try to strain (tense) the situation through confrontation of the Georgian and Ossetian population, for respecting the fundamental norms of the law and ethics, especially the chivalrous traditions of Georgian and Ossetian people.

The Georgian Parliament focuses on the importance of the May 26 and May 31 television addresses of President of Georgia and believes that after completing the military confrontation of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, it was for the first time that the top official of Georgia made real steps towards final resolution of the conflict. The Parliament fully shares the President’s position that it is important for the population of Ossetian nationality living in that region to see and feel that Georgia protects them and cares for their welfare; it is important to take efficient actions for protecting main democratic rights of the population, to improve their social and economic condition, restore the confidence between the Georgian and Ossetian people.

The Georgian Parliament states that the fundamental rights and freedoms of the citizens of Ossetian nationality will be guaranteed within the united Georgian state; all over the country, they will be provided with all conditions for the maintenance and development of their originality, as well as for realization of cultural, economic, social and political rights. All the above-noted developments shall be achieved through a political dialogue where the people should participate, and first of all – the Ossetian population who most of all wishes to keep peace and stability.

The Georgian Parliament applies to separate organs of authorities and mass media of Russian Federation to demonstrate a great political astuteness, objectiveness, correctness and restraint. Against the background when real formation of good-neighborly, mutually beneficial relationship between Russia and Georgia is in place, attempts of political pressure and interference into internal affairs of sovereign state will result in nothing but injury to any of them. Russian Federation and Georgia should be equally interested in creating the stable and peaceful Caucasus, the achievement of which is possible only through cooperation and mutual respect. The Parliament is ready to contribute to formation of new, more active relationship between Russia and Georgia that will be oriented on future cooperation.

The Georgian Parliament applies to the Governments of the United States of America, Russian Federation, member states to the European Commission and other friendly states, as well as to all relevant international organizations with the request to support the Georgian authorities in its attempts regarding final, peaceful and political regulation of the situation in the former South Ossetian autonomous oblast, in protecting fundamental rights and democratic values of individuals, as well as contribute to the process of full-scale rehabilitation of the region.

At the present moment, there are all political and economic preconditions in place for final settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, which will become the unique precedent of peaceful resolution of, through political methods, of the so called “Frozen conflicts” throughout the post soviet environment, which, on its part, will support strengthening of international safety and stability as a whole.

Tbilisi, June 4, 2004

(Archive of the Parliament of Georgia)