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Vasili Istratov: â€œGeorgia should sign an agreement with South Ossetia and Abkhazia covering legal commitments on not using forceâ€

11 August 2008 11:57 (UTC +04:00)

â€œThere are peacekeeping forces there and troops can not be sent there. Despite this, troops were sent to South Ossetia and peacekeepers were attacked using artillery. As a result of it a lot of people, including peacekeepers were killed. About 80 percent of South Ossetiaâ€™s population has Russian passport. After UN Security Council failed to pass a decision in connection with Russiaâ€™s initiative on ceasefire, we have no other way out but to help our citizens and peacekeepers,â€ he said.
Istratov said the situation was improving dynamically and they hoped that Georgia would draw its troops to the area envisaged by the agreement signed in 1992. The ambassador said the main thing that Russia demands from Georgia is that the official Tbilisi should sign an agreement with South Ossetia and Abkhazia covering legal commitments on not using force. The diplomat mentioned that Georgia had recently deviated from signing such an agreement under various pretexts.
â€œNow it is clear that the aim was to have an opportunity to use force. Tskhinvali has no water, electricity, the infrastructure has been destroyed. Reconstruction requires much funds,â€ he said.