PM tells OSCE: JCC not enough
By Eter Tsotniashvili

Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli reiterated Georgia’s stance that the Joint Control Commission’s (JCC) is insufficient for settling the South Ossetia conflict, in a speech to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on October 30.
Noghaideli expressed gratitude to the OSCE for its involvement in conflict resolution in Georgia, but highlighted the ineffectiveness of the JCC negotiation format.

“Decisions are not made and implementation is impossible, because the format and the separatists themselves constantly reject initiatives and proposals,” he said.

The prime minister added that Georgia does not reject the JCC, but said “in plain terms, it is not enough. And it will not bring us peace.”

Noghaideli put forward three interdependent approaches that he suggests are needed for resolving the South Ossetia conflict.

Firstly a national and inclusive consultation process over the region’s final status is required.
Secondly, Noghaideli recommends a “more robust” engagement of the international community in order to enhance security and ensure the free movement of goods and people, as well as to nurture a dialogue “both bilaterally and among the different representatives of the people of South Ossetia.”

Thirdly, a plan for the economic development of the region should be implemented, he said.
He also underlined the importance of Georgia reassuming control over the Roki Tunnel on the Russian border, and talked of the necessity of preventing incidents like the August 6 Tsitelubani missile incident.
However, Alexander Borodavkin, Russian envoy to the OSCE, warned of the possibility of a future major confrontation in the conflict zone.

“We are greatly alarmed because analysis of the situation suggests that the renewal of large-scale conflict is not out of the question,” Borodavkin stated.

Minister for Conflict Resolution Davit Bakradze claimed that Georgia was enjoying broad backing at the conference.
“Every official who spoke today supported Georgia and I should add that nobody doubts that the Roki tunnel should be under Georgian control, the only opposing side here is Russia,” he told Rustavi 2.

On the subject of the legal status of South Ossetia within Georgia, Noghaideli reiterated the region would have broad autonomy, under Georgian sovereignty, according to Ria Novosti.

“The question of autonomy can be decided within the framework of our sovereignty,” Noghaideli said, emphasizing that Georgia’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable.

As well as discussing conflict issues, US Political Counselor at the OSCE Samuel Laeuchli mentioned the current political standoff between the Georgian administration and opposition, appealing to both sides to establish a dialogue.

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