South Ossetia to consider a “non-aggression pact”

Tskhinval delegation is going to discuss the non-use of force agreement at the fifth round of Geneva talks as stated by Boris Chochiev, the RSO President's Plenipotentiary for post-conflict settlement on May 13.

"At the last meeting in Geneva we raised a crucial issue for South Ossetia - security, - OSinform quotes. - We must be sure that Georgia will not try to treacherously attack our country again". According to the president's plenipotentiary at the time of the fourth round of Geneva discussions the South Ossetian side's idea that security in the region prevails solution of humanitarian issues and problems of refugees was supported. "Let me remind you that the memorandum on non-use of force has not been signed yet. We will bring the memorandum draft to Geneva hoping to discuss it together with the EU and other international organizations".

It will be remembered that Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN Envoy also spoke about the necessity to sign such an agreement last week: "The situation in the zones adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia remains precarious, - RIA Novosti quotes. - In spite of the presence of UN observers the Georgian side organizes regular provocations". Churkin also mentioned concentration of Georgian armor and two and a half thousand servicemen in the zones near the South Ossetian border. "An unpredictable situation in the zones adjacent to South Ossetian and Abkhazian borders requires additional measures for stabilization and provision of supremacy of law", - Vitaly Churkin concluded.

As early as in January the European Union signed an agreement with Georgia's Defense ministry on creation of restricted-armament zones on the territories adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "This will give Georgia a certain amount of defensive capabilities" - Civil.ge quoted Clive Trott, EUMM deputy head of operations. - But these numbers are not capable to carry out offensive operations". Georgia agreed to cut part of its military units exceeding a battalion and reduce arms with a caliber of 120mm or more.

Tskhinval was skeptical about the memorandum then. "Considering that the EU monitors are military people they play cunning", - an unnamed source at South Ossetia's Defense Ministry was quoted by Interfax. - the EU monitors are perfectly aware that Georgia's armed units deployed in Gori now will be able to reach Tskhinval within an hour if needed".

Besides it was reported in the RSO Defense Ministry then that the equipment, arms and number of servicemen in the near-border zones of Georgia are 1.5 times more than before August 2008, and the EU observers refuse to see preparations for a new aggression by Tbilisi.

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