Russia Reiterates Offer to 'Normalize Relations' Between Georgia and Occupied Territories
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, October 18, 2024
On October 17, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated Russia's willingness to help Georgia "normalize relations" with the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. She praised the current Georgian Dream government for its willingness to apologize to Tskhinvali and accused the West of trying to open a "second front" in Georgia.
Zakharova emphasized Russia's unchanged priorities in the region, which include obtaining legally binding guarantees from Tbilisi on the non-use of force and on border demarcation. Although she acknowledged that these goals have not yet been achieved, she expressed optimism, stating that Georgia's initiative to apologize to Tskhinvali offers "some hope."
She also claimed that Russia is "encouraged" by the growing public recognition in Georgia that former President Mikheil Saakashvili was responsible for the August 2008 war, referring to him as "a madman driven by passions and unhealthy ambitions." Zakharova referenced the Tagliavini report, claiming it supports Russia's view of the conflict, while criticizing the EU for lacking the "courage to speak the truth" as it did 15 years ago.
Zakharova expressed hope that the Georgian Dream government's stance would shape the actions of the Georgian delegation in the next round of Geneva International Discussions. She stressed that occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali must also be willing to "turn the tragic page," while making it clear that the past will not be forgotten. She reiterated Russia's readiness to assist in the normalization of relations on both bilateral and multilateral levels, calling for a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force from Tbilisi.
Regarding concerns about opening a "second front," Zakharova stated that the people of Georgia now understand the root cause of past conflicts and the dangers of becoming involved in another war. "No one wants to get involved and become a bargaining chip in someone else's game," she said, adding that Russia aims to create a new security system under a "new world order."
She concluded by asserting that once this system is established, discussions about a "second front" and other divisive strategies will become irrelevant.
