The US Department of the State has approved the the Program that Georgia suggested for regulation of the conflict of Georgia and Abkhazia. In fact the US has agreed to participate in the regulation process. It is written in that document that constructive dialogue is the only way of fair regulation of this conflict. It is written in the announcement that the US protects the territorial integrity of Georgia and is ready to cooperate with the two parties of the conflict, as well as with Russia and all members of OSCE with the purposes of strengthening the mutual trust, supporting economic development and finding peaceful ways to solve the conflict.
Tbilisi considers this announcement as a serious step towards protecting the territorial integrity of Georgia. The foreign affairs minister of Georgia recently announced that Georgia expected adequate steps from Russia. According to him the conflict regulation program of Georgia that was approved by the US provides autonomy for South Osia in the territory of Georgia. “They must understand that the program has no other alternative: Georgia will realize this program step-by-step to reach this goal and get a final result (to provide wide autonomy for South Osia in the territory of Georgia)”, -said the prime minister.
In the scopes of this program Tbilisi will pay conpensation to those citizens who suffered from the military conflict, discuss the issue of creating a free economical zone in the territory of Tskhinvali and provide priveleges when crossing the border of Russia and Georgia in the territory of Rock tunnel. With these purposes Georgia will start the discussions with new standards in 2006, which goal is to start controlling the territory of Rock and to found a commission for invetsigating the military crimes of 1991-1992.
During the recent meeting of control commission in Russia it turned out that the program of Saakashvili is acceptable by all parties except the one point stated in it: Russia and South Osia don’t agree with the participation of the USA in the negotiations process.
Head of South Caucasus Regional Security board Alexander Rousetski thinks that the current program yet has to be amended and brought to balance. “There are two ways of development and the authorities try to do that. The first one is the integration of the US, and OSCE joining the regulation process. And the second one is not to solve this issue with help from the international community, but rather locally”, – said Rosetski to “168” Hours journalists. According to him inter-community negotiations can be more effective, because all local parties will take part in the negotiations. He also noted that it was very important to choose a right program of developments and not to be mistaken, because this process would last long and it was very important to state whether the role of the US in this process would be as a participant or as an arbiter. “If we take into account the tone and contents of the announcement of Washington regarding September 20, it is clear that the US tries to reach the second one”, -said the politician.