STATEMENTOF THE BUREAU OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GEORGIA

The Parliament of Georgia expresses deep concern regarding the recent events, taking place on the territory of the former Autonomous District of South Ossetia and categorically condemns inspiration of the military conflict and rude violation of human rights of the Georgian citizens by the de-facto Government of the region.

The object of terror becomes everyone, despite the nationality, who tries to make steps for the reconciliation of the Georgian and the Ossetian peoples. The illegal imprisonment of Alexandre Kozaev is a vivid example of this.

The Parliament of Georgia condemns all the acts of discrimination, carried out in the previous years on the ethnic basis and categorically declares: The tragedy that happened in 1990-1992 shall not be repeated, peace of the inhabitants of the region and development perspective shall not be sacrificed to the political ambitions of the group of criminals.

No step, made by the Georgian authorities is or will be directed against Ossetian people. Cultural, economic, social and political rights of the citizens of Ossetian origin will be fully protected within the united Georgia.

The Parliament of Georgia appeals to the Georgians, residing in the region – we adore your courage, loyalty and patriotism! Our policy is peaceful but we shall not allow anyone to threaten or to oppress our citizens. The Georgian authorities will adequately respond to illegal activities of criminal armed groups and will take all the measures, envisaged by the law, for protection of own citizens.

The Parliament of Georgia urges the authorities of the Russian Federation to fully realize the political responsibility, which lies with Russia, as with the participant of the peace process and ambitious member of the international community. Russia shall make a choice between support to separatism, dictatorship and criminal and protection of civilized norms. The activities of the Russian Peacekeepers within their mandate is are represented as the gesture of good will towards the Georgian side although their actions in many cases are clearly against the interests of the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

In case of similar development of events, the Parliament of Georgia considers it appropriate to raise an issue of immediate withdrawal of the Russian peace contingent from the region.

The Parliament of Georgia expresses gratitude to the International Community for the support and still expects from the friends of Georgia facilitation of the measures, undertaken by the country’s authorities for the protection of stability and democracy.

Tbilisi, July 9, 2004.

(Archive of the Parliament of Georgia)