Unofficial translation from Russian

Question: How could the Foreign Ministry comment on the speech Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili made at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session in Strasbourg, where he announced new initiatives by Tbilisi for resolving the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict?

Commentary: Considering Russia's active role in the course of the settlement of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict, we carefully acquainted ourselves with the proposals put forward by the Georgian President. They require studying.

It is important how Tskinvali will react to them. For our part, we would like to note the following.

We cannot but agree with the Georgian President, when he calls the first step towards reunification of his country its conversion into a well-run and prosperous state. We cannot but welcome the statement that the way towards this goal lies, in his vision, through safeguarding the fundamental rights of all the citizens of Georgia, primarily those who suffered in the sanguinary internal conflicts. Of basic importance, finally, is the condemnation by the Georgian President of violence, the use of which makes the solution of the country's problems impossible.

At the same time it is obvious that, in view of the continuing tension in South Ossetia, where the situation abruptly degraded last summer as a result of the attempt by Tbilisi to solve the problem by methods of force, it would be more effective and correct to work through the so far-reaching proposals with the concerned parties in the framework of the existing mechanisms for settlement. By the way, these mechanisms, and in the first place the Mixed Control Commission, which in these days succeeded in removing the new flare-up of tension in the conflict zone, are not mentioned in the new Georgian initiative at all.

In the light of yesterday's speech of Mikhail Saakashvili it is appropriate to recall his another address of not so long ago to an international audience, notably the participants of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly. Then the Georgian President stressed that a serious discussion on the status of the conflict regions should be preceded by confidence-building agreements and their implementation. It is understandable that only by way of patient work on the establishment and strengthening of an atmosphere of trust between the parties is it possible to arrive at a solution of the fundamental tasks in resolving the conflicts within the territory of Georgia.

We also consider it necessary to express our concern over the sharp remarks of Mikhail Saakashvili with regard to Abkhazia, in particular his accusations that Sukhumi had "withdrawn from the negotiations." It is well known to the Georgian side what caused the short pause in the participation of the Abkhaz side in the negotiating process, just as the fact that recently the representatives of Abkhazia declared that they were ready to return to the negotiating table with the participation of the international mediators.

January 27, 2005