Dear Mr. Hastings, 

I would like to address you due to the extremely difficult situation developing in last several days in my homeland- Georgia, namely in the Tskinvali region, former Autonomous district of South Ossetia.

Recently, the situation in the Tskinvali region has drastically deteriorated.  We witnessed the overt attempts of carrying out the policy of large-scale ethnic cleansing of Georgian population, manifested in massive and intensive bombing of Georgian villages by the illegal military formations controlled by the local separatist regime. Let me remind you of the outrageous fact of hostage-taking and abusing human dignity of Georgian peacekeepers. In Edinburgh, the OSCE PA responded to this fact, through the adoption of adequate resolution, in a timely and appropriate manner, thereby substantially contributing to the cause of setting free the aforementioned military personnel.

The ongoing process of democratization in Georgia has caused irritation of the separatist regime and made the situation tense in the Tskinvali region. Determined actions of the Georgian Government aimed at eradication of contraband and corruption in the Tskinvali region have deprived the de facto ruling elite of the source of illegal income. This is the very reason why the separatist and their supporters have opted for the military escalation.

It is especially outrageous that Russia, neighboring State of Georgia, which is entrusted with a role of mediator in the conflict, in fact is instigating the conflict and uses its peacekeeping forces as a tool for military-political pressure on Georgia. In addition, it is a proved fact that mercenaries of Russian citizenship are fighting in the Tskinvali region.         

Today, there can be no doubt, as to why the peace-keepers have brought into the region weapons, explosive and rocket-launchers- today, the Georgian villages are being bombed by these weapons, and as a result, representatives of Georgian peace-keepers and civil population are killed on a daily basis.

The background of the current conflict situation is an active apolitical support provided to the separatists by the Russian Duma. High rank Russian officials repeat that their must protect rights and security of the Russian citizens in the Tskinvali region, Georgia. Although, it should be pointed out, that the process of granting Russian citizenship has been carried out in a gross violation of the norms of international law and represented a pretext for future provocations. With this regard, I have strongly criticized Russia during the Berlin session of the OSCE PA and the Assembly has supported me in my criticism.

On the one hand, Russia claims that it is a neutral mediator and its mission is of exclusively peaceful nature, on the other hand, it persistently argues that its major goal in the region is to protect its own citizen and that claim turns it into a party to the conflict. The manifested incompatibility of the aforementioned two facts vividly demonstrates that Russian should not be regarded as an unbiased arbiter of the conflict.

The Georgian Government has started evacuation of the Children from the conflict zone. Personally, I have offered the Tskinvali de-facto government to evacuate Ossetian children from those villages that are controlled by the separatist regime.

Protection of peaceful population, irrespective of ethnic origin, is the most important goal and duty of our Government. We do not want to resort to military force, since it is our territory, they are our people, but we should not give the room for maneuver to war-mangers and bloodthirsty provocateurs, otherwise, we will face huge catastrophe.

On several occasions, we initiated cease-fire and demanded withdrawal of illegal military formations from the conflict zone. We stand ready for a political dialogue, in order to put an end to the bloody conflict instigated by the outside forces. Unfortunately, the separatist regime does not stop shooting. If all the peaceful means are exhausted, Georgia reserves the right to protect its territorial integrity and democracy through all available means that are in conformity with the norms of international law and the UN Charter.

Today, on 19 August 2004, the President of Georgia put forward an initiative of paramount importance and stated that he stands ready to unilaterally withdraw armed forces and weapon from the conflict zone and that the Georgian troops would allow the mixed peacekeeping forces to control the heights occupied by the Georgian troops. The aforementioned is the best proof that Georgia is doing its best to solve the conflict peacefully and we do hope that the other side would respond adequately this step undertaken by the President of Georgia.

Unfortunately, in terms of effectiveness, the restricted monitoring mandate of OSCE is a far cry from being a desired one. The peacekeeping operation carried out within the framework of the aforementioned mandate, has not brought any positive substantial result and the conflict zone remains to be an explosive one.

Taking the aforementioned into account, providing of substantial support to Georgia on the part of International community is a matter of immediate necessity. The most important priority is to change the existing peacekeeping format and to replace the Russian peacekeepers with an international contingent. This is the most potent prerequisite for just and comprehensive solution of the conflict. Otherwise, we will not be able to avoid a severe humanitarian catastrophe, casualties, ever increasing number of refugees and further political confrontation in the region.

We deem it appropriate to set up a peacekeeping international mission under the aegis of OSCE, which will be entrusted with special mandate to control communications and roads of vital importance and the segment of the Russian-Georgian State border at the Roki Tunnel.

In order to eradicate the conflict in a comprehensive manner, it is essential to continue political dialogue, with active participation of international institutions.

Solution of this problem will contribute to the cause of establishment of security in the region and will have positive impact on a future democratic development of the whole Caucasus.

We do hope and look forward to getting support from you and the whole international community.

The President of Georgia has already addressed the Heads of States with similar request.

We stand ready to support international peace initiatives to the maximum possible extent, since building a democratic Georgia based on the principles of Rule of Law, and which will be worthy member of the European security and cooperation community, is our major goal.                   

         Sincerely, 

Nino Burjanadze

Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly