Paata Zaqareishvili, scientist in conflict regulation said in conversation with GHN that the august war consequences for Russian Federation was that is it known now at the international arena as "aggressor" and "occupant" country. For Georgia, the neighbor country became an enemy and is in a desperate expectation of status quo restoration. 20% of the land in Georiga is occupied and no signals for its return are visible.

He noted that earlier in 2005 the dialogue still was possible with S.O., it was going slowly and with stumbling but it was. Kokoity sent to Saakashvili a letter asking for negotiations in December 2005. As well Shamba arrived to Georgia with serious suggestions... this situation we have only to dream about presently.

The Georgian-Abkhazian negotiations were decided in August 2006 when Georgian government entered forces to Kodori valley and acting in such way breached the Moscow agreement. According to this agreement nobody has a right to enter forces to the valley - no Russian, neither Georgians. There only the local militia should be. The second mistake which our government did was in November when they conducted the so-called alternate Presidential elections in Akhalgori and elected Sanakoev. This cased all relations with Russian Federation and the peacekeeping process ended. The relations became cold. This was at hand to Russia and they drugged us into the military conflict.

After the 2006 and not after the 2008 nothing changed. In the Georgian -Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetia relations now the relations are as cold as they were in 2006 summer.

The improvement of a situation is for advantage not only for Georgia but as well for Abkhazia, South Ossetia and even Russia. As less Georgia will be involved in the regulation of this problem then lesser will be a chance to return territories and as much Russia will seize our land.

It is sad but it is a fact that nobody implements the Russian policy and projects in Georgia, as the present Georgian government does it.

He explained that the Georgian government does not conduct meetings and negotiations with the South Ossetia Party and Abkhazian said and everything is up to the Russian Federation's decision.

- We are only talking, but Russian Federation is seizing our territories and we are doing nothing to stop this process.

- Do you think in this situation only the Georgian government should be blamed?

- I am not telling this. But first of all this is the case. It is natural that not Abkhazians naughtier South Ossetians will not turn to us with pleasure. Nevertheless we have to take some steps to get results in 2-3 years.

- What can we do and are not doing?

- First of all we should open the administrative borders and all who wishes to enter the South Ossetia should be allowed to. It is right that nether Ossetians are allowing entering the administrative border, but we should do our business from our side. The opening of borders denotes that we will not be a cause for the hindering of relations. At the same tine the big mistake is that we are not allowing to the administrative border the movement of any goods, especially in Akhalgori region. We are hindering to the local population to make living. We have to support the Georgian population in Akhalgori region, but contrary we are making every effort to make them left the region. In Akhalgori unlike it is in Tserovani and other regions, Georgians have no living conditions. Those expel who were left in Akhalgori, we are naming as traitors and making many troubles for them. We are not giving them the wages and they are put in a maximally disadvantageous situation.

I myself would recognize the Abkhazian passport for the internal use only. And I would do the same with the South Ossetia population passports as well. I would declare that these passports are the IDs of Georgian state. And I would spread over them all social facilities among them in healthcare, education and so on.

Moreover I would take a decision for the exchange of hostages to "all to all" principle. I would diminish to the zero the number of prisoners. NO further detention would be possible under the new legislation. We cannot perform the jurisdiction over the Tskhinvali and following this we better to find other ways to rule of the fate of people and those humanitarian questions which are concerning the imprisonment and hostage. Many things could be done but we are not doing anything. All this might be implemented step by step.

- You did mentioned the legitimating of Abkhazian passports does this mean the partial recognition of the Abkhazian independence?

- Some steps should be made this is a fact. The public should be explained about the reasons of such steps. Second we do not wish to compromise and to get back Abkhazia and S.O. 20 years passed and we should think about this. 20 years I have heard nothing except of rejecting my suggestions in this area. Eventually we are more and more getting deeper to the bog. I have heard nothing except o the declarations that the territorial integrity of Georgia should be restored and the refugees should be returned. But were the restoration of the territorial integrity and the refugees?

Naturally I talked about this from the beginning. But my opinion was not considered when the document was drafted. The strategy of the government was initially dead. As seems the positions included in that document were not working. First of all this is about the heading of the document: "Strategy for occupied territories". The term occupation for Abkhazians and Ossetians sounds very unacceptable regardless of the content of the document itself. As well there were talks about the Russia's aggression only. But Abkhazian are considering themselves as victims of Georgia first of all. I suggested the redistribution of a gilt shares over both Russia and Georgia. The next one mistake was that the document was not considering Abkhazians and South Ossetians as a party of the conflict. The party of the conflict was only Russian Federation. For one word what we suggested to Abakhians and South Ossetia's was not too bad, but the covering was such unpleasant for them that it was evident they would not agree. This is why I believe the strategy should be changed.

- Do you think that it is too early to think about the reoccupation till the Georgian authorities will not recognize Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as a party of the conflict?

- Naturally this is an erroneous approach, when we are talking that we have conflict only with Russian Federation. Such approach works against us. What we got in South Ossetia in August 2009, is a result based on the greatest political mistake, that allowed Russia to enter the Kodori valley and to recognize both regions as independent states, to conclude with them the international agreements and based on these agreements to enter the Armed Forces there. The voluntary policy of Georgian government made a new conflict - the conflict Tblisi-Tskhinvali. The RF drugged us into this conflict... We are deceived.

Lela Baghdavadze
GHN