The Statement of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration

Today, five years have passed since the Russian Federation recognized the so called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by violating the principles of international law. The results and events that followed this decision in the past years have made it clear that none of the parties reached their goals. After the Russian Federation recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as so called independent states on 26 August of 2008, our fellow Abkhazian and Ossetian citizens have even lost the little freedom that they had before. In reality, they have become isolated. The military, political and economic dominance of a foreign country has never been so omnipresent in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as it has been in the last five years. The economy of these regions is completely in Russia`s hands, and in political terms the freedom of decision-making is increasingly shrinking. So, the societies of Abkhazia and South Ossetia not only failed to achieve international recognition, but found themselves facing the threat of absorption by the big state. Unfortunately, the recognition of the so called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia gave Russia the possibility of creating artificial barriers between people, such as the build-up of the barbwires. Dividing lines are harmful for fellow Abkhazian and Ossetian citizens, as it should be vital for them to maintain a sustainable connection with the outside world through means other than just Russia. The existing circumstances could call into question the existence of the Abkhaz and Ossetians as an ethnos. Naturally, this situation causes the Government of Georgia to be concerned. We are caring for and plan to do even more for the preservation of the Abkhaz and Ossetian languages and maintenance of their culture and identity. Abkhazians and Ossetians should know that relations with the rest of Georgia will create the hope for the future, the hope that together with us they will manage to get a deserved place in the European space, which will also ensure solid guarantees for inviolability of their rights and the real opportunities for their economic development. As for Russia, the recognition of the so called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia left it in loss too. Our northern neighbor was followed by only a handful of countries that have some obligations towards it, and one of them has even established diplomatic relations with Georgia recently, thereby officially recognizing the territorial integrity of Georgia. International community very well understands that every dispute should be settled with negotiations and confidence-building between people in accordance with international law, not through the use of force or build up of barbwires. In the pursuit of the recognition of the so called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia was virtually left isolated on the international arena which in a long run is undoubtedly to its own disadvantage. Also, having occupied the territories internationally recognized as Georgias and supported separatism, Russia triggered threats inside the country, as doing so Russia is indirectly encouraging the separatist movements on its own soil and setting an unwelcome precedent for itself. Taking into account the history of ethnic and religious confrontations in Russia, Moscow should find it pragmatic and fundamentally important to try to solve the problem of separatism through joint effort with the neighbors, not encouraging the separatists. We have more than once expressed the readiness to be the factor for stability in the North Caucasus and to actively cooperate with Russia in defense of common interests, including the provision of security for the Sochi Olympics.

Having recognized the so called independence of Georgias territories, Russia has actually cut the last string connecting it with Georgia. By normalizing relations with Georgia and by its membership in the Euro-Atlantic family, Russia will have a trustworthy neighbor and a partner in its troubled region. Georgias position is clear the Georgian government wants to normalize relations with Russia and deepen the cultural, people-to-people and economic ties, as it is visible from the steps taken recently. However, it should be emphasized that it is impossible to restore full-fledged ties and renew bilateral diplomatic relations with Russia until there are several so called embassies of the Russian Federation on the territory of Georgia. We do believe that with time Russia will realize what the recognition of the so called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has actually brought to it. The permanent criticism from the international community, the loss of Georgia as a partner, the costs of sustaining the territories recognized by it should be going against Russias own national interests. The Government of Georgia continues the active work with Georgias western friends on the international arena, using both bilateral and multilateral formats, to ensure that Russia fully complies with the six-point ceasefire agreement of 2008. At the same time, Georgia is grateful to its western partners for such a firm support for and effective implementation of the non-recognition policy in the last five years. In its turn, the Georgian government supports greater western engagement in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The steady maintenance of the non-recognition policy by the West in future will serve as the guarantee that the Government of Georgia unilaterally takes bold steps for confidence-building with the Abkhazian and South Ossetian societies and for their de-isolation. We are sure that every party will soon realize the negative effects of the decision made five years ago, which brought the peace process to a dead end and made everyone miss the point. It is always possible to find the ways out of this situation through a dignified face-saving for each interested party and consideration of their genuine interests.