Unexpected announcement was made by Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Relations with Russia. “Provided, Russia promotes and encourages a direct dialogue between us and the Ossetians, us and the Abkhazians we are ready to set these questions connected with statehoods aside and even do not discuss them for some time".

The persistency of Georgian politicians in refusing to recognize the existing realities deserves better application in other spheres. Finally, it’s time for Georgian authorities to realize there are no questions on statehood of the Republic of South Ossetia.

The statehood of South Ossetia was defined by its people and is in no way a subject of discussion. The independence of the Republic, as life-preserver from depopulation of the Ossetians conducted by Georgia, was proclaimed in the Declaration, dated December 21, 1991. This decision was supported on a nationwide referendum hold on January 19, 1992 and approved in the Act of Declaration of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia dated May 29, 1992. South-Ossetian statehood was established in strict conformity with norms of international law.

The Republic of South Ossetia is a recognized state and has been participating on equal terms in the Geneva International Discussions since 2008. Georgia is also a participant in these discussions. As for the direct negotiations between South Ossetia and Georgia, the Georgian politician is counting on, they can be conducted only between independent neighboring states with equal rights and have to meet all existing realities.