Question: How could you comment on the statement of South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity that “the authorities of South Ossetia will not allow the return of Georgian refugees who have left their villages in the Georgian-Ossetian zone of conflict”?

Commentary: This is an emotional statement made under the impact of the situation resulting from the massive armed assault on South Ossetia carried out by the Georgian leadership. Civilians and peacekeepers have been killed, considerable damage has been inflicted.

There are the generally recognized rules of international law entitling people to return to their former habitual residence when the circumstances owing to which they had to leave them do not exist anymore. In particular, this is confirmed in Article 1 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

At the same time the practical process of refugee return, as a rule, bears a protracted character. Thus, a majority of persons who became refugees as a result of the conflicts in former Yugoslavia have still not returned to their native places, let alone Palestinian refugees.

One should not forget that feelings run extremely high in South Ossetia after the aggressive actions of Georgia’s leadership. The dead have just been buried, the process of damage elimination and the creation of elementary conditions for a return to peaceful life has begun. A lot of work lies ahead. It is obvious that much time must pass before the wounds are healed and trust is restored. Only after this will the conditions be created for discussing practical aspects connected with the problem of refugees.