GEORGIA OBJECTS TO SEPARATISTS’ APPEARANCE AT COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Rustavi-2 TV
Jan 23 2008
Georgia

Russia has demanded that representative offices of [Georgia’s
separatist regions of] South Ossetia and Abkhazia be created at the
Council of Europe. The head of the Russian delegation [Konstantin
Kosachev] deems the Council of Europe bound to listen to Abkhaz and
South Ossetian leaders. Kosachev accused the Council of Europe of
loyalty towards Georgia, saying that the Council of Europe is using
double standards regarding Georgia. Members of the Russian delegation
assume responsibility for assessing the monitoring of Georgia [as
heard]. One more issue regarding Russia was included in a Council of
Europe resolution. The resolution said that international organizations
depend on Russia financially and every organization should take this
into account when making decisions.

[MP Levan Berdzenishvili, member of the Georgian delegation at the
Council of Europe] [Abkhaz separatist leader Sergey] Bagapsh and
[South Ossetian separatist leader Eduard] Kokoyty do not represent
any country. If the Georgian state has the desire to bring here the de
facto leaders of its regions, this will be so. Of course, the Armenian
[as heard] delegation is not right in this case. Until Georgia and
its territorial integrity exist, neither Bagapsh and Kokoyty nor,
incidentally, [Dmitriy] Sanakoyev, [head of the Tbilisi-backed
temporary administration for South Ossetia] will be invited here. At
any rate, there will be no consent from us.

[Elene Tevdoradze, chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament Human Rights
Committee] It is unimaginable and impossible today for Europe to
support separatists and their supporters.

[Nino Nakashidze, chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament European
Integration Committee] What should their [Bagapsh’s and Kokoyty’s]
status be when they come here? De facto presidents? Representatives
of what? Whose representatives? We believe that these kinds of
attempts are provocative. You know that there have been these kinds
of statements not only at the Council of Europe, but also at the
UN Security Council, but they have not ended positively for the
Russian side.