Georgian forces to be withdrawn from South Osetian border

The population in the breakaway republic of South Osetia is alarmed at attempts by the Georgian side to bring interior units into the 12-kilometer zone of the Georgian-Osetian conflict, which is considered demilitarized under the Dagomys agreement of 1992. By its actions the Georgian side, whose peacekeeping battalion is a part of the Joint Peacekeeping Force along with the Osetian and Russian ones, is breaking the agreement on the inadmissibility of one-sided actions with the use of force in this zone. Troops landed in 8 helicopters are still staying in the area of the Tkviavi village, where the interior units have massed.

Minister for Special Affairs of the Republic of South Osetia Boris Chochiyev, who represents the South Osetian side in the Combined Control Commission as a co-chairman, rates the actions being taken by Georgian security forces as an attempt to launch military aggression against the Osetian people and to induce the peacekeepers to partake in hostilities. The silence being kept by Georgy Khaindrava, Georgian co-chairman of the Combined Control Commission, seems to be very strange against such a background. He has not voiced his position towards what is happening so far.

The peacekeeping force command takes measures not to allow the development of the conflict situation into an armed conflict. Plans of the Georgian side reportedly consist in the making of police posts along the perimeter of the South Osetian border strengthening its positions in such a way.

According to recent information, the Georgian side is going to withdraw armed units from the Georgian-Osetian border. The sides will discuss the situation that has arisen at a scheduled session of the Combined Control Commission in Tskhinval tomorrow, June 1.