STATEMENT Of THE STATE DUMA OF FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION Regarding Aggravation of the Situation in the Zone of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict and on Actions to be Taken for Protection of Rights and Legal Interests of Citizens of Russian Federation and Russian Compatriots Residing and Staying on the Territory of South Ossetia

July 10, 2004

The State Duma of Federal Assembly of Russian Federation expresses it extreme concern with regard to aggravating the situation in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

We would like to remind, that Ossetia voluntarily formed a part of Russia in 1774 in the form of the unified Ossetia and not the South and North Ossetia. This is an indivisible (unified) nation.

Deputies of the State Duma deem it their duty to remind the leadership of Georgia that just in accordance with the Agreement signed by heads of Russia and Georgia in Sochi on June 24, 1992 about the principles of resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, the peacekeeping operations started in the zone of conflict on July 14, 1992.

According to the above-noted Agreement, the peace-keeping joint forces (the JPKF) have been established within the Georgia, Russian and Ossetian battalions and entered in the zone of conflict. Russian peacemakers, on the recognition of participant of the process, represent the main stabilizing force in the zone of conflict.

The deputies of the State Duma are extremely concerned about the information that Georgian authorities do not stop their illegal and provocative actions in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Using the above-noted methods, the authorities seriously coarsely) violate the stated Agreement and make all efforts to remove the resolution of the Georgian-Ossetian problem from the legal framework.

Statements of some representatives of the leadership of Georgia evoke (cause) deep bewilderment where they try to justify the provocative actions of Georgian law enforcement structures against Russian peacemakers. Those who encourage these very dangerous actions, should realize that just they will be responsible for escalation of tension in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. In the opinion of the deputies of the State Duma, Tbilisi ignores the fact that aggravation of the situation in the stated zone jeopardizes the safety of the population of South Ossetia, the majority of which are the citizens of Russian Federation and Russian compatriots.

The State Duma strongly denounces the actions of Georgian authorities aimed at destabilization of the situation on South Ossetia.

Taking into account the above-noted facts, the deputies of the State Duma expresses open bewilderment about the position of members of Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, which, per se supports the assessment of the situation in South Ossetia provided by the Georgian delegation. Absence in the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE of even a mentioning of a mandate of the JCC, which according to the 1992 Agreement between the parties agreed by the parties represents the only legal basis for resolving the all main issues in the region, will hardly facilitate the settlement of the Georgian-Ossetia conflict.

The approach (thinking) and politicization of the said resolution is very obvious especially when at the moment of its adoption groups of armed persons having no documents were detained in the zone of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict and they were released with the help of the Russian peacemakers.

The deputies of the State Duma are absolutely certain that at the present moment the main task is to renew activities of the JCC, including the activities in emergency regime, as soon as possible, through visiting the sites, negotiations within the framework of the stated Commission. Only such approach, irrespective of the existed difficulties, demonstrated that this was the only method to settle the South Ossetian problems and create beneficial preconditions for constructive negotiations.

The deputies of the State Duma will again continue preventing use of military forces in the Caucasus, providing safety, protecting rights and legal interest of the population of Russian Federation and Russian compatriots residing and staying on the territory of South Ossetia.

(www.duma.ru/in Russian)