Translated material
Ossetian mutation
Georgia is unhappy with the receipt of Russian aid
South Ossetia has again become a reason for the Georgian-Russian dispute. Tbilisi accused Moscow of uncoordinated financial investments in the unrecognized republic and threatened to withdraw from the 2000 intergovernmental agreement. This document provides for the participation of Russia and Georgia in the restoration of the national economy of the former autonomous region, destroyed by the armed conflict of 1989-1992.In accordance with this agreement, as well as agreements reached in 2006 at a donor conference in Brussels under the auspices of the OSCE, Russia allocated 100 million rubles to South Ossetia for the rehabilitation of seven medical and cultural facilities. Russia was the first and so far the only donor to invest in South Ossetia.
An interdepartmental working group from Moscow, led by Assistant Prime Minister Gennady Bukaev, completed a three-day visit yesterday, during which they checked how these funds were spent. The first deputy chairman of the South Ossetian government, Boris Chochiev, told Vremya Novostei that “no comments have been received and we are counting on continued assistance in 2007-2008.” However, there was a protest in Tbilisi, because millions went to the unrecognized republic, bypassing the Georgian center.
The Office of the Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution stated to VN that “if the Russian side continues the practice of unilateral actions,” Tbilisi may reconsider its participation in the 2000 agreement. Georgia doubts the targeted spending of funds and demands control from the OSCE so that Tskhinvali does not have the opportunity to use the money for weapons.
In addition, according to Tbilisi, Russia “illegally” supplies electricity to South Ossetia, and last year began construction of a gas pipeline from North Ossetia without warning Georgia about it. “At the first stage, projects were implemented spontaneously. We are going to switch to a regime of consultations with the Georgian side so that the projects are systematic,” explained Gennady Bukaev, noting that the Russian side informed the OSCE about its actions.
Georgia is also ready to offer financial assistance to the unrecognized republic, but within the framework of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s plan to create a temporary administration in the former joint-stock company. It is stationed 6 km from Tskhinvali in the village of Kurta and is headed by the former Prime Minister of South Ossetia Dmitry Sanakoev. The Georgian parliament will begin considering the corresponding bill, which will actually legalize the alternative pro-Tbilisi government of South Ossetia, on May 1.
Tskhinvali is refusing this help. The chairman of the information and press committee of the unrecognized republic, Irina Gagloeva, told the Tskhinvali news agency “Res” that Tbilisi, relying on “alternatives,” “ignores and neglects the opinion of the Ossetian people, the leadership of Georgia determines our status, hiding behind a bunch of mutants. The Ossetian people declare that there can be no talk of any autonomy within Georgia.”