In his Easter Epistle, Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia the Second called for “starting direct dialogue with Abkhazians and Ossetians.” The Patriarch’s vision is consistent with the approach of the Government of Georgia, as expressed in its engagement strategy.

The State Ministry for Reintegration believes that this approach is the only way forward. It hopes that this vision will be received by the communities across the dividing lines with due consideration, allowing for restored people-to-people contacts and refreshed conflict resolution.

The State Minister met with the members of the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) to discuss the State Strategy on Occupied Territories and the Action Plan. The State Minister outlined the role of the European Union in the implementation of the Action Plan. The PSC members welcomed the vision of the Georgian Government and expressed support for the priorities laid out in the strategy.

 

The State Minister also presented the Strategy to the NATO-Georgia Commission, and met with the Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for External Relations of the European Commission Hugues Mingarelli and representatives of EU institutions.

 

Representatives of NATO, EU institutions, and NGOs declared their full support for the Georgian Government and their involvement in the development and implementation of the Action Plan, aimed at the wellbeing of the population living in the occupied territories.

 

During the visit, Mr. Yakobashvili gave interviews to the media, including a reporter from the EU Observer, Andrew Retman, and the Public Broadcaster of Estonia.

 

Галина Аккерман: Господин Якобашвили, Вы встретились с французским руководством, чтобы представить грузинскую программу в отношении «оккупированных территорий», то есть Южной Осетии и Абхазии. Я прочитала ваши предложения, и хотела бы получить несколько уточнений.

Например, в программе написано, что необходимо установить свободное передвижение людей между Грузией и этими сепаратистскими регионами, но насколько я понимаю, российская армия совместно с местными вооруженными формированиями уже построила границу, которая практически на замке. Как в этих условиях может осуществляться свободное передвижение людей?

Темур Якобашвили:  сигнала. Естественно, мы не собираемся разбрасывать листовки с вертолета или заниматься подобным маразмом. Есть современные медиа-средства, которые позволяют доставить информацию и довести ее до этих людей, в том числе.

- Вы хотите сказать, что люди, обладающие компьютерами в Абхазии и Южной Осетии, смогут получить доступ к бесплатному интернету через грузинского провайдера?  и распространения информации. Мы не боимся информации из России, но мы думаем, что открытые каналы для обмена информацией очень важны.

- Вы не ответили на мой вопрос. В настоящее время Первый Кавказский выходит в эфире только через интернет или он также доступен в Грузии тем, у кого есть обычные телевизоры? Если это так, могут ли его принимать жители Абхазии и Южной Осетии?

- Традиционное телевещание только отчасти покрывает эти регионы. Сигнал не доходит, например, до Сухуми. После того, как мы найдем другой спутник, Первый Кавказский станет доступным для всех.

- Уже больше года назад Радио «Свобода» начало вещать на русском языке из Тбилиси для жителей Абхазии и Южной Осетии. Есть ли статистика? Много ли у «Свободы» слушателей на этих территориях?

- Идея этого вещания принадлежит мне, и я долго и упорно ее пробивал. Я думаю, что люди имеют право на разные мнения и на собственную точку зрения. В данный момент трудно судить, сколько радиослушателей у них есть, потому что нет независимых источников информации. Мне говорили неоднократно, что люди довольно активно слушают эти передачи.

- Как радиожурналист, я могу это только приветствовать. Мы лишний раз убеждаемся, что старое доброе радио оказывается наиболее надежным источником информации в этом современном технологическом мире.

- Я с Вами согласен. В современном мире радио себя не изжило, и если люди не слушают радио дома, хотя хозяйки как раз и слушают, они слушают его в машине. Радио остается важным медиа-средством для получения и распространения информации. Тем более в таких местах, где действуют ограничения, а ограничения на этих оккупированных территориях существуют. Населению пытаются промывать мозги через российские теле- и радиоканалы, по рецептам классической тоталитарной пропаганды, и тот контент, который идет по этим каналам, можно назвать контентом лжи и распространения национальной розни.

- Мы очень активно обсуждаем этот вопрос и внутри страны, и с донорами. В современном мире интернет не должен быть предметом роскоши, это – средство получения Начнем с того, что наша стратегия преследует цель не изолировать эти территории от остальной Грузии и от остального мира. Мы видим попытки с российской стороны аннексировать эти территории, изолировать их и помешать им иметь отношения с остальным миром. Но несмотря на то, что там находятся российские войска, что Россия прислала туда своих пограничников, мне кажется, что полностью закрыть административную границу ей не удастся.

Есть объективные причины, почему люди должны передвигаться. Тут и торговля, и здравоохранение, и образование. Искусственно отрезать этих людей у России не получится. Это не получалось в прошлом даже при наличии Берлинской стены, люди и тогда стремились к свободе, а уж в 21м веке это и подавно невозможно.

Естественно, мы ожидаем, что в какой-то момент может наступить ужесточение режима передвижения, будут новые препятствия, но мы надеемся на международное сообщество, на здравомыслящих людей, которые проживают на этих территориях. Мы надеемся, что возобладают практические нужды жителей этих территорий, которые довольно активно передвигаются через оккупационную линию. Если Берлинская стена не остановила людей, то абхазская или осетинская стена вряд ли смогут быть эффективными.

Есть чисто практические аспекты. Например, Цхинвальский регион (Южная Осетия) полностью привязан в экономическом смысле к остальной Грузии, и осуществлять хотя бы поставки продовольствия через Рокский туннель, который не функционирует зимой, практически невозможно.

- Вы хотите сказать, что сегодня на территорию Южной Осетии продовольствие поставляют грузинские компании?

- На данном этапе, это – не компании, а индивидуальные лица, и там расцветает так называемый «чемоданный бизнес». Мы хотим придать этому явлению цивильные формы и предоставить коммерсантам цивильные возможности. Согласитесь, нездорово, что в Цхинвали помидоры продаются по 10 евро за килограмм.

- Следующий вопрос связан с вашими планами в области образования. В программе написано, что будет предоставлена возможность населению Абхазии и Южной Осетии получать образование в Грузии. Конкретно, много таких просьб поступает? И как это будет осуществляться? Вы будете давать стипендии? Предоставлять общежития? Ведь это – в основном бедные люди.

- Естественно, мы будем создавать специальные механизмы для этого. Во-первых, на территории Абхазии проживает весьма ощутимое количество этнических грузин, которые хотят получить образование на родном языке, многие из них приезжают для этого в Тбилиси. Нам приходится создавать специальные программы, чтобы как-то стереть различия в системах образования. Кроме этого, мы хотим предложить населению Абхазии и Южной Осетии обучаться не только в Грузии, но включить их в квоты, которые получает Грузия в зарубежных университетах, в разных программах, будь то для студентов или для школьников. Жители Абхазии и Южной Осетии станут интегральной частью международных программ, в которых участвует Грузия. Не думаю, что какая-нибудь военная сила может их остановить и запретить им получать образование в Гарварде или Сорбонне.

- А как будет функционировать ваша программа в области здравоохранения? Населению Абхазии и Южной Осетии будет предоставлено грузинское государственное медицинское страхование? Или будет оказываться помощь в экстренных ситуациях?

- На практике это уже осуществляется. К сожалению, на этих территориях распространены некоторые тяжелые заболевания. В Абхазии, например, много случаев гепатита С, туберкулеза, СПИДа. Там эти болезни вообще не лечат. Для того, чтобы получить медицинскую помощь, больным надо ехать или в Москву, или в Тбилиси. Москва далеко, Тбилиси ближе. И у нас есть государственные программы для населения Грузии, в том числе для Абхазии и Южной Осетии. Больные уже приезжают, им уже оказывается помощь, а теперь мы хотим облегчить эту процедуру и сделать ее более доступной.

- Вы создали Первый Кавказский канал телевещания на русском языке, хотя у вас возникли трудности с размещением канала на спутнике «Евтелсата». Мне представляется, что одной их целей создания русскоязычного вещания было как раз вещание на Абхазию и Южную Осетию, не правда ли? Могут ли сегодня жители этих регионов смотреть этот канал, несмотря на отсутствие ретрансляции через спутник?

- Мы собираемся использовать все современные медиа-средства, чтобы донести нашу правду до русскоязычного населения, где бы оно ни проживало. Будь то в Абхазии, в Цхинвальском регионе, в Москве, в Азербайджане или в Казахстане. Мы создавали этот канал не в пику России, не против России, не для Северного Кавказа, как часто выдумывают в России, а для русскоязычного населения во всем мире. Франция создала англоязычный и арабоязычный канал для вещания во всем мире, и мы пошли по тому же пути. Вещание прекратилось из-за известной проблемы с французской компанией «Евтелсат», но мы сейчас находимся не только в судебном разбирательстве с этой компанией, но и ищем другие альтернативы.

Кроме того, мы думаем, что было бы интересно предоставить жителям на оккупированных территориях доступ к бесплатному интернету. Это позволит им получать телепрограммы через интернет, вместо традиционного телевизионного

 

During the meetings, the participation of France in elaboration and implementation of the action plan of the “State Strategy on Occupied Territories: Engagement through Cooperation” was discussed.

 

France welcomes the vision of Georgian government and the priorities elaborated in the strategy. At the same time, France expresses willingness to actively participate in the development of the programs aiming at improving the wellbeing of the population living in the occupied territories.

 

The State Minister has met with high-officials from the ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs; the minister has also met with experts from world’s leading analytical think-tank the French Institute of International Relations.

 

Consultations with other high-ranking politicians and meetings with French media representatives are also planned.

The vice premier and the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili is visiting Strasburg, France from 2 to 4 February. On 3^rd of February, the State Minister will present the state strategy on occupied territories to the cabinet of ministers of the Council of Europe. During this visit, Minister Yakobashvili will meet Thorbjorn Jagland, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. 

On 1^st February the Tbilisi international press-centre (RIA Novosti) hosted the media space bridge. The Georgian side was represented by Temuri Yakobashvili, the Vice-premier and the State Minister for Reintegration. The Russian side was represented by Aleksey Vlasov, General Director of the Center for Information and Analysis of Public and Political processes in Post-Soviet space and Felix Stanevsky, the Institute for CIS counties, Caucasus Director, the former Ambassador to Georgia (1996-2000).  The Russian and the foreign journalists accredited in Russia also were present during the media space bridge.

 

The State minister answered the questions related to the situation in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia after the 9^th round of Geneva Talks and to the State Strategy on the Occupied Territories adopted by the Georgian Government.

 

Today, on September 14, Temuri Yakobashvili, a Vice Premier and State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration met with Tina S. Kaidanow, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in charge of relations with countries in the Caucasus and Southern Europe. The meeting carried an introductory character.

The State Minister provided information to Ms. Kaidanow about the activities of the Minister’s Office. They also discussed a future strategy in reference to the occupied territories.

Today, on September 14, Temuri Yakobashvili, a Vice Premier and State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration met with the AmbassadorofFranceEric Fournier, the Ambassador of Germany to Georgia and Ambassador of the United Kingdom to GeorgiaDenis Keefe. The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the US Embassy.

The topic of the discussion was a future strategy in reference to the occupied territories.

Today, on September 14, Temuri Yakobashvili, a Vice Premier and State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration met with Giorgi Baramia, Head of Administration of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

Topic of the meeting was the issues on development of the state strategy in regards to the occupied territories, and the perspectives of tight interagency cooperation. They discussed current situation in the occupied territories and the ways of solving the problems faced by the population residing in these territories.

At the meeting the Minister updated the guests about the visions in regards to the occupied territories and then the information around the existing situation was consolidated.

Office of State Minister for Reintegration is organizing the presentation of the Report of the Government of Georgia “On Full-scale political-military aggression of the Russian Federation against Georgia”. 

The presentation will be held at 6:00 on 6 August 2009 at the Courtyard Tbilisi Marriot in Tbilisi.

At the meeting the Georgian side was represented by the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Office of the State Minister for Reintegration and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti regional police. The Russian side was represented with high-rank officials of the 7^th military base of the Russian occupation army, the Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and the diplomatic office.

Representatives of marionette regime and those of the legitimate government of Abkhazia participated in the meeting. The meeting was led by the special representative of the United Nation’s Secretary General and the head of the European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia (EUMM).

The parties discussed the procedural issues – frequency and venue of future meetings, number of participants, procedures for approving the agenda, working languages, chairmanship and other issues.

The parties agreed that the meetings will be held regularly, once every two weeks, on Tuesdays, and will be chaired by the UN and EU support. Maximum number of participants and representatives of the parties was defined.

The Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration welcomes the first meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism in Gali and hopes that the meetings held regularly under the international supervision reduces the number of incidents and increases security of the population in the territories of occupied Abkhazia and neighboring areas.

Office of the State Minister for Reintegration is deeply concerned by these reckless acts. These incidents once again underline, how measurable are the conditions in which the ethnic Georgians live on the territory controlled by the occupation forces; they are under constant pressure and their inalienable human rights are regularly violated.

These incidents are attempts of purposeful banishment of the Georgian population, which is unacceptable.

Access of the international monitoring missions to the territories controlled by occupation forces is extremely important for the purpose of preventing and avoiding provocations or incidents of this sort.

We call on UN, EU and OSCE, and other international organizations to react rapidly and adequately to these incidents, so to end the lawlessness taking place on the Georgian territories occupied by Russian Federation.

 

On February 13, the Vice-Premier, State Minister for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili met with the Delegation of Operational Unit of the EU Directorate for Civilian Crisis Management, headed by Antonio Tanca.

The parties discussed the situation of the population affected by the Russian aggression and the activities implemented by the Government of Georgia for finding the ways out of this situation. Temuri Yakobashvili presented the detailed information to the guests about this issue.

At the meeting, the importance of the presence of international organizations and the international observers in the territory of Georgia was emphasized in regards to the conflict resolution. Temuri Yakobashvili pointed out at the meeting: ‘the war of August is not the problem of one country only, but of the whole Europe. Russia tries to change the geo-political map with the use of force’.

On February 11, the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili met with the representatives of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, headed by Goran Lennmarker, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative for Georgia.

At the meeting, the parties talked about the importance of OSCE observer mission in the conflict zone, also about the necessity of involving the international community in the Russian-Georgian conflict.

The State Minister informed the guests about the situation of the population who have remained in the occupied territory, and the ways out of this situation. As the minister clarified to the guests: ‘currently the main objective of the Government of Georgia is to avoid escalation of the situation, ensure safe return of internally displaced people, also protect administrative borders, which should be done with the support of the international community’.

The parties also discussed the events taken place during the war of August and the details of starting the hostilities.

 

On February 3, the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili and the Deputy Minister Ruslan Abashidze met with the delegation of Estonian Parliament headed by Sven Mikser, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

At the meeting, the Minister informed the guests about the current situation in Georgia in reference to the occupied territories and laid emphasis on the threats that Georgia is facing.

The talks also referred to the situation and problems of the people displaced after the war.

The Estonian delegation emphasized the significance of territorial integrity of Georgia and expressed readiness to protect the interests of Georgia as a friend country on the international arena.

On February 3^rd the State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili met with the Ambassador Pierre Morel, the EU special representative for the crisis in Georgia. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Czech Republic Ivan Jestřāb, Director General of EC foreign relations Mr. Thierry Becher and other representatives of the EU delegation.

The parties discussed the current situation in the occupied territories and the details of the IV round of Geneva negotiations scheduled for February 17-18.

The guests positively evaluated the fact of providing accommodation to the people displaced after the war of August by the Government of Georgia, and emphasized the necessity of providing assistance to the region affected by hostilities. They also discussed the issue of safe return of internally displaced people.

Pierre Morel denounced the statement of the officials of the Russian Federation about landing its marines at the site of the naval base, Ochamchire. From his side, the State Minister asked the EU delegation to spare no efforts for appealing to the Russian Federation again to fulfill the obligations under the 6-point plan.

 

On December 22, 2008, a meeting was held between the State Minister of Georgia Mr. Temuri Yakobashvili and Mr. Johan Verbeke, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Georgia.

At the meeting the sides discussed the topic of UN future mandate in Georgia and the ways of joint works of peacemaking missions deployed in Georgia.

 

The sides expressed willingness of future cooperation. 

On December 9 2008, Mr. Temuri Yakobashvili, State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration held the meeting with representatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Mr. Lorenzo Amberg, Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Swiss Confederation in Georgia also attended the meeting.

 

During the meeting, sides talked about the past activities of the Swiss Agency in the conflict regions of Georgia and discussed perspectives for enhancing joint cooperation in the future.

The State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili met with the EC ethnic minority rights monitoring group. The delegation that visited Georgia for the first time, consisted of the following members: Ms. Ilze Brands-Kehris (First Vice-President), Mr. Rainer Hofmann (Second Vice-President), Ms. Marieke Sanders Ten Holte (one of the members), Ms. Françoise Kempf and Ms. Artemiza-Tatiana Chisca. Main goal of the visit is to monitor the performance of framework convention in regards to protection of ethnic minority rights, which was ratified by the Parliament of Georgia in 2005.

During their meeting with Temuri Yakobashvili the delegation members were interested in institutional changes that were implemented at the office of the State Minister for Reintegration, and namely, in reference to the change of regulations: two departments were established at the ministry: the department for ethnic minorities and the department for civil integration.

Temuri Yakobashvili informed the guests about the work done, in particular, about the structure formed within the departments. In two regions of Georgia, where the ethnic minorities are compactly residing, regional representations have been opened, that will facilitate obtaining accurate information and elaborating right strategic course from the viewpoint of ethnic minorities. At the meeting the current problems were also discussed.

 

On December 5 the Deputy State Minister Elene Tevdoradze went to Bolnisi district. In the village Kvemo Bolnisi the Deputy State Minister visited the population from Zemo Abkhazia affected by the Russian aggression during the events of August. There are 39 affected households accommodated in Kvemo Bolnisi. The district administration provided normal conditions for living and learning to this category of the population.

Elene Tevdoradze also visited the village Khachini, where the Georgian, Azeri and Armenian population are peacefully residing side by side.

On December 4, Elene Tevdoradze went to Gardabani district, where the Georgian citizens of Azeri nationality are compactly residing.

After meeting with the district administration, Elene Tevdoradze visited the Vakhtangisi customs checkpoint, where she talked to customs officers, representatives of financial police and citizens who cross the border. After the meeting it was found out that the population is not quite well informed about the rules of transferring products through customs.

Elene Tevdoradze also held meetings in the village Nazarlo and visited an Azeri school, which has a problem of textbooks. The population is mostly worried about the sale of agricultural products.

Deputy State Minister for Reintegration Elene Tevdoradze went to Dmanisi District in Kvemo Kartli Region on November 27, where the Georgian citizens of Azeri nationality (65%), also Georgians (30%) and Greeks (120 households) are compactly residing.

Other than Azeri schools, there is a Russian school in the district where 120 students are studying.

At the meeting with the district population and teachers, there was an issue raised about the lack of textbooks and insufficient teaching of the state language.

Elene Tevdoradze also visited the village Irginchai, which is located at the Armenian border, where she met with the Azeri population and got familiar with current problems.

At the meeting with the Deputy State Minister, the Irginchai population talked about the village problems: lack of roads, water and pastures.

 

The issues of assistance to internally displaced people from Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region after the Russian-Georgian war of August, 2008, and the rehabilitation of the ruined infrastructure were discussed at the meeting.

 

Thomas Hammarberg shared his impressions and opinions to the State Minister about the conditions of compactly accommodated IDPs. Besides, he underlined the circumstance that a significant progress has been observed in this direction in recent months. COE High Commissioner also referred to the problem of IDP employment and expressed his hope that the Government of Georgia will share the recommendations of the international community and their advice in regards to this issue.

 

The State Minister thanked the guest for being frank and for sharing his opinions. Temuri Yakobashvili mentioned that despite little time, the Government of Georgia has achieved a significant progress in connection to the issue of providing primary assistance to IDPs, which the foreign partners agree in private talks too. The State Minister talked about the strategy of the Georgian Government in regards to the assistance to IDPs. He also clarified to the Human Rights High Commissioner that the Georgian Government is developing an additional assistance package, which is aimed at promoting IDP employment, infrastructure development and providing subsidies for certain taxes in some sectors. The State Minister also confirmed that he shares the opinions of the COE High Commissioner in regards to improvement of IDP conditions.

 

The State Minister addressed the guest with a request for the international community to show more attention to the issue of IDPs displaced as the result of the Russian aggression, namely, to support their employment programs. Temuri Yakobashvili paid significant attention to mine cleaning works in the region and expressed his hope that the assistance of the international community will be significant in this regard.

 

The Deputy State Minister Ms. Elene Tevdoradze paid attention to the issue of cutting off potable water by the Tskhinvali puppet regimes for the villages that are mostly resided by Georgians, and also referred to the facts of discrimination against the Georgian population in the region.

 

In the end, Elene Tevdoradze asked the COE Commissioner and the international community to exert more efforts for protecting the rights of IDPs and of the Georgian population who are remaining in the region.

 

According to Temuri Yakobashvili: ‘despite the war is over on the territory of Georgia, we have become witnesses of the second war, the media-war. Unfortunately, recently the anti-Georgian publications and movies are frequently found not only in Russian, but also in foreign media as well.’

 

The State Minister provided the example of documentary ‘War 08.08.08 – Art of Betrayal’. The movie is taken by all the possible versions, including the cell-phone. This is the result of clear slander, where the movie-makers made so many blunders that it is worthless to speak about these details’.

 

The State Minister regretfully pointed out that ‘the materials circulated by the western media became a part of slandering a campaign, which unfortunately is based on unreliable sources of doubtful origin’. Temuri Yakobashvili referred to Ryan Grist, former staff of OSCE mission to Georgia as one of such sources, who has been withdrawn from the organization after the war. Besides he offered the journalists to refer to the OSCE head office for clarifying the reason for his withdrawal.

 

Temuri Yakobashvili emphasized the fact that the Georgian side was the first to suggest creation of a special investigation committee, but Russia was categorically against it. According to the statement of the State Minister, Georgia possesses all the necessary documents, inter alia the OSCE opinion on bombardment of the Georgian villages before and after the war.

 

‘Unfortunately, recently the western media has been doubtful about the things that even the Russians do not deny – there is information in the western media that all this has not taken place the way it is presented by the Georgian side. Such campaign started after Mr. Putin admitted at Valdai summit that Russia has lost the information war. According to our data, Russia has allocated huge amounts of money for conducting an information war and absolutely all the methods of bribery, blackmail, information manipulation were taken from the remaining arsenal of ‘KGB’, the precious pieces of which are more and more frequently found in the western press”.

 

‘Time has come to state clearly that a planned media-campaign has started against Georgia in all directions’ – stated Temuri Yakobashvili. The State Minister also addressed the journalists with the request to verify the circulated information and make sure about the sources.