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Georgian Minister Says Russia Wants Peace
Russia is concerned about developments in Tskhinvali and really wants to deescalate tensions in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Teimuraz Yabokashvili stated in an interview on Georgian Rustavi 2 television. “Today Russia is as concerned about what is happening in Tskhinvali as everybody else,” Yakobashvili said. “I believe that Russia is no being deceptive and really wants to deescalate the situation.”
The Georgian minister continued that “The separatist regime is acting independently,” worrying Russia that the situation in the conflict zone is getting out of control. “Separatists authorities are trying to save the [South Ossetian President Eduard] Kokoity regime,” Yakobashvili said. He confirmed that Russian special ambassador Yury Popov will arrive in Tbilisi on August 7, and they will travel together to Tskhinvali for talks with Deputy Prime Minister of South Ossetia Boris Chochiev. The talks will be held outside the Mixed Control Commission format, Yakobashvili emphasized.
“I expect the Ossetians to understand our position from that meeting. We do not intend to conduct a military operation there. We don’t need that and everything else should be based on that,” Yakobashvili said. There is no shooting in the conflict zone at present, although the South Ossetian Information and Press Committee reported that Georgia fired on the village of Khetagurovo in the unrecognized republic from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. yesterday, injuring one woman.
www.kommersant.com
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