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26 July 2010
Statement of the Office of State Minister for Reintegration
    
On June 24, at 13.00 a.m. members of the so-called parliament of South Ossetia were among a group of people who assaulted Temur Tskhovrebov, editor of the Tskhinvali newspaper “21st Century.”

 

Mr. Tskhovrebov was attacked for his participation in the “Georgian-Ossetian Civil Forum” in Leiden, the Netherlands in July. He also participated in drafting a joint appeal on regional security and the solution of humanitarian problems among the divided communities, addressed to the participants of the Geneva talks. The Government of Georgia is deeply concerned by the disarray in the occupied territory of the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia: violation of human rights,   denial of the rights to free expression; intimidation, impunity; and a general insecurity for residents.
The Government of Georgia condemns any violence against civilians and calls for the increased involvement of international organizations and institutions so that international community is aware of the existing situation in the occupied territories. The Government of Georgia hopes that the civil society of the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia will stand for the right to free expression and against persecution.
Consistent with this expectation, the Government of Georgia has adopted the State Strategy and Action Plan for engagement, to create an enabling environment for relations between divided communities, in an atmosphere of cooperation, partnership, and restoration of trust among all communities of Georgia.
The Government of Georgia believes that the successful implementation of these activities will lead to reconciliation and restoration of trust between the divided communities.
08 July 2010
Statement by the spokesperson of HR Catherine Ashton
    
17 June 2010 European Commission against Racism and Intolerance - Report on Georgia, 2010
    
14 June 2010 Minister’s Meeting with Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
On June 14, 2010, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration, Temuri Yakobashvili, met with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

 

The two officials discussed the State Strategy on Occupied Territories. The State Minister familiarized Mr. Çavuşoğlu with the forthcoming Action Plan, outlining the role of the PACE.
Mr. Çavuşoğlu approved of the goals laid out in the Action Plan and expressed the support of the PACE in its implementation.

 

    
08 June 2010 Statement on violence in Gali
The Government of Georgia is deeply concerned by the tragic events in the Gali District villages. The violence in these villages left three people dead, six houses burnt and tens of citizens without accommodation, as well as many who suffered injuries.

 

The Government of Georgia expresses condolences to the family members of the deceased, condemns all the acts of violence and is alarmed by the escalation of tensions.
 
The Government of Georgia calls for the urgent involvement of international organizations in an impartial investigation of the events.  It urges the European Union Monitoring Mission to lead this effort and stands ready to cooperate in an inquiry within the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism.
 
The Government of Georgia calls on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide shelter and accommodation to the victims of violence.
The Government of Georgia takes note of the measures that prevented the violence in village Dikhazurga, Gali District from extending to village Rephi, Gali district.  The Government of Georgia hopes that Abkhaz society will not stand idle in the face of violations of human rights that impede reconciliation between divided communities.
 
    
04 May 2010 Interview of "cinco días" with Mr. Temuri Yakobashvili (in Spanish)

Entrevista Temuri Yakobashvili. Viceprimer ministro de Georgia

"La UE necesita depender menos de la energía rusa"

El dirigente del Gobierno georgiano destaca el potencial de la ex provincia soviética como centro de distribución entre Europa y Asia y alerta de que Rusia es un socio "poco fiable" para la UE

Fernando Martínez - Madrid - 04/05/2010

Georgia quiere jugar un papel fundamental como alternativa a Rusia en lo que se refiere a rutas de suministro energético. El viceprimer ministro y ministro de la Reintegración, Temuri Yakobashvili, ha visitado Madrid para exponer cuál es la situación del país. Yakobashvili cursó estudios en las universidades de Oxford, Birmingham y Yale. De 1990 y 2001 ocupó varios cargos en el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y desde 2008 se ocupa de la reintegración de Osetia del Sur y Abjasia, ocupadas en agosto de ese año por el Ejército ruso.

Desde un punto de vista económico, ¿cuáles son las principales oportunidades que ofrece Georgia?

El principal motor de nuestra economía es una filosofía muy liberal, que permite a Georgia ser uno de los mejores países del mundo para hacer negocios. En términos de impuestos, licencias y trámites, hacer negocios en Georgia es muy fácil. Hemos acabado con la corrupción. De acuerdo con Transparencia Internacional, el nivel de corrupción de Georgia es el mismo que puede haber en un país como Holanda. En segundo lugar, hay que tener en cuenta que la climatología favorable hace de nuestro país un lugar interesante para la agricultura y el turismo. Por último, nuestra localización nos permite actuar de hub (centro de distribución) para conectar Asia con Europa. Georgia es un lugar de tránsito y eso significa mucha actividad en infraestructuras: ferrocarril, puertos, carreteras...

¿También oleoductos?

Por supuesto. Actualmente podemos jugar un papel como suministrador alternativo para Europa desde el Caspio. Ya hemos desarrollado oleoductos y gasoductos que van en paralelo con Rusia. Hemos desarrollado rutas que llevan el petróleo directamente del Mar Caspio a Turquía para llegar desde allí a Europa y también hasta Ucrania, sin necesidad de tener que pasar por Rusia. No es una sustitución de Rusia, es una alternativa para reducir los riesgos de seguridad energética para Europa.

¿En qué consisten esos riesgos?

Sabemos cómo es el comportamiento de Rusia, abriendo y cerrando el grifo a su conveniencia. La UE necesita depender menos de Rusia y tener rutas alternativas para el suministro. Podemos decir que nuestra infraestructura es suficiente para tener una influencia en el precio.

¿En qué sentido?

Todo lo que pasa por manos rusas se convierte automáticamente en una manipulación. Nosotros podemos hacer que el suministro de energía deje de ser una cuestión política en términos de precios para ser una cuestión de mercado.

¿Teme una intervención militar de Rusia?

Es importante subrayar que la intervención de Rusia no logró cumplir sus objetivos y que las dos provincias no fueron reconocidas diplomáticamente. El primer ministro ruso, Vladimir Putin dijo que la desaparición de la Unión Soviética había sido la gran tragedia del siglo XX y parece que se está tomando sus palabras muy en serio. Lo que estamos viendo con países como el nuestro, con Ucrania y, en general, con Asia Central, es un intento de Rusia para reunificar la Unión Soviética. Eso es muy peligroso y creo que es negativo para la propia Rusia, que al final es vista como un socio poco fiable, como podría ser España. Creo que las condiciones internacionales no favorecen que Rusia intente entrar en Georgia otra vez.

¿Qué mensaje envía a los empresarios españoles?

Los empresarios han de tener en cuenta varias claves: proximidad geográfica, un clima muy favorable para hacer negocios, una población con muy buena formación académica y la capacidad de Georgia como punto de conexión y distribución entre Europa y Asia.

Oportunidad de negocio en infraestructuras

Bajo el impulso del Icex (Instituto de Comercio Exterior), varias empresas con sede España visitaron Georgia en febrero para interesarse por proyectos empresariales. Destacó la presencia de empresas de ingeniería, una actividad relacionada con infraestructuras, como es el caso de Inypsa, Socoin, Alatec e Isolux. La constructora OHL también participó en el encuentro.

Además, la empresa Porcelanosa también tiene una oficina abierta en Georgia. El país, que obtuvo su independencia en 1991, está en conversaciones con la UE con vistas a una posible adhesión a la Unión, aunque el propio Yakobashvili reconoce que "es un proceso largo, que requiere tiempo y muchas decisiones políticas". En este sentido, el viceprimer ministro de Georgia espera el respaldo de la presidencia española para dar un impulso a las relaciones entre Georgia y la UE. 

    
03 May 2010 Interview of "ABC" with Mr. Temuri Yakobashvili (in Spanish)

No sería necesaria más de una década para la reunificación de Georgia»

 El viceprimer ministro y ministro para la Reintegración de Georgia, Temuri Yakobashvili, ha realizado una visita a España en la que ha mantenido conversaciones con miembros del Gobierno español y con portavoces parlamentarios de distintos partidos, a quienes ha explicado la situación en su país, tras la crisis del verano de 2008 con Rusia y el reconocimiento por Moscú de la independencia de las regiones separatistas de Abjasia y Osetia del Sur.

Echa de menos una defensa más firme por parte del Gobierno español de la integridad territorial de Georgia, de la misma manera que se ha opuesto a la independencia de Kosovo de Serbia?

-España, como país, como presidencia de la UE y por sus especiales relaciones con los países de América Latina cumple un papel muy positivo. España no solo ha declarado que apoya bilateralmente la integridad territorial de Georgia, sino que lo hace en el seno de la Unión Europea. Quizás, el paso siguiente sería ya dar un respaldo a la política de Georgia con los territorios ocupados por Rusia, en los que debería estar presente la Unión Europea.

 El jefe del Ejecutivo español, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Zapatero, declaró a los directivos del New York Times que la incorporación de Georgia a la OTAN sólo provocaría un mayor distanciamiento entre Rusia y el mundo occidental. ¿Cree que España se ha vuelto atrás del apoyo al ingreso de Georgia en la Alianza Atlántica que dio en la cumbre de la OTAN en Bucarest?

-Tiene que llegar la hora en que todo el mundo entienda que la posible ampliación de la OTAN no es un acto antirruso, sino que conviene a los intereses de los aliados que Rusia sea un país democrático y estable. Dar la posibilidad a Rusia de vetar la ampliación es un gran mensaje para los rusos, que lo entienden como luz verde para actuar contra sus vecinos. Precisamente las fronteras estables son las de aquellos países vecinos de la Federación Rusa que ya son miembros de la OTAN. Por el contrario, los problemas los tiene Rusia con aquellos países fronterizos que aún no están dentro de la Alianza Atlántica. En cualquier caso, cuando llegue el momento de apoyar el ingreso de Georgia en la OTAN, estoy seguro de que España lo hará si es lo que desea el pueblo georgiano.

-Entre el reducido número de países que reconocen la independencia de Abjasia y Osetia del Sur están Venezuela y Nicaragua. ¿A qué obedece eso?

-Se trata de un asunto excepcional. No tiene nada que ver con la ideología bolivariana. Son países desesperados que han recibido el agradecimiento financiero por parte de Moscú. Otros países de la misma órbita, como Cuba, han mostrado más dignidad, a pesar de que tuvo mucha presión de Rusia.

Qué considera necesario para lograr la integridad territorial de Georgia?

-Las fuerzas militares ocupantes de Rusia deben retirarse de los territorios y cuando salgan, no debern ser sustituidas por tanques georgianos sino fuerzas internacionales para asegurar la paz, lo que permitirá celebrar elecciones y que vuelvan los refugiados. La paradoja es que Rusia apoya algo que no desea para sí misma en otros territorios. Putin y su sequito del KGB han logrado monopolizar Rusia. y si alguien quiere que continúe esa política lo que tiene que hacer es impedir a Georgia ser miembro de la OTAN. No me alegra para nada que Georgia se convierta en un test, pero desgraciadamente se ha convertido en un lugar del mundo en el que Rusia está comprobando si se pueden cambiar las reglas establecidas del orden internacional. Han dejado a Rusia actuar con impunidad en Georgia y se ha convertido en una Rusia revisionista, que si ve que puede continuar actuando así acaba como una Rusia revanchista. Eso es muy peligroso.

 

Verán algún dia la reunificación de Georgia?

-Es muy difícil hacer un  pronóstico, pero yo creo que no necesitaríamos más de una década. Para ello, Georgia debe ser más fuerte y Rusia debe entender que la política que lleva con nuestro país es autodestructiva. En algunos círculos rusos ese ya es un tema del que se habla. El territorio georgiano que nos quiere quitar le resultará muy difícil de digerir

 

Qué opinión le merece el intento en Rusia de rehabilitar a un georgiano como Stalin?

-No lo vemos con buenos ojos. Stalin es una figura muy negativa como lo son los dirigentes de aquel periodo. Su origen étnico georgiano no fue obstáculo para que fusilara a muchísimos georgianos. El problema de Rusia es que, en lugar de mirar hacia el futuro, mira hacia el pasado.

Qué peticiones concretas ha hecho al Gobierno español?

-Queremos que durante la presidencia española se firme el documento sobre facilitación de visados entre Georgia y la Unión Europea. Creemos que se podrá firmar en las últimas semanas del semestre de presidencia española y debo decir que el ministro Moratinos ha jugado un papel bastante significativo para lograrlo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
03 May 2010 Interview of "OpenDemocracy" with Mr. Temuri Yakobashvili (in English)

Georgian Overtures to Abkhazia and Tskhinvali

Georgia’s State Minister for Reintegration floats a proposition for building bridges with Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region

 They say that if you build bridges, rather than walls, you will make a friend. It is in that spirit that I came to London last week to explain how Georgia proposes to reach out to our compatriots in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

Both territories were on the frontline of the war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. Russia invaded and still occupies both territories with thousands of troops. People on all sides were forced to flee, and now large numbers of the displaced live in temporary housing, particularly on the Georgian side. Walls now effectively exist between the communities. I am pleased to report that nearly all of the international community, with the notable exceptions of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Hamas and Hezbollah in Palestine, strongly support the territorial integrity of Georgia with full autonomy for Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The question is how to make this happen.

The President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, believes that hearts and minds must be won over. After the break-up of the Soviet Union not enough attention was paid to the understandable sensitivities of the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Any solution must be based on full respect for the autonomy, culture and history of all peoples.

 As Reintegration Minister I am part of a Government that has been liaising with all parties to find a way forward. The cornerstone of the plan we have developed is to remove divisions and facilitate co-operation between the occupied territories and the rest of Georgia. I want to see greater economic co-operation, so that living standards can improve for all.

Areas close to the dividing line have suffered too long from insecurity and require special assistance. The plan includes proposals for ‘special economic zones’, which would straddle the dividing line, and bring in new investment and jobs. The primary focus will be the agricultural sector. I want to see legal hurdles cleared to allow the sale of products from Abkhazia and South Ossetia to international markets. Better infrastructure, especially transport links, are crucial. The plan includes provision to rehabilitate roads between both communities and the rest of Georgia and to allow the reestablishment of bus connections. Investment is needed to provide for new schools, hospitals and sporting facilities. Any solution must see improved access to healthcare, in particular new medical programmes for the peoples of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to improve vaccination, maternity and childcare services, and prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and drug abuse. In education, I propose a focus on new textbooks in the Abkhazian and Ossetian languages. Greater protection for the cultural heritage and identity of both peoples is vital. It is equally important that we put in place stronger protection for the environment, so that future generations can enjoy some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Georgia.

 From conversations I have had, I know the leaderships of both territories have found the annexation of their lands by Russia stifling, to say the least. Clearly there were frustrations with the Georgian authorities in the past, but they are minor compared with dealings with faraway rulers in Moscow, not known for their listening skills or cultural sensitivity. Currently, Russian authorities are violating the commitments they made after the invasion to allow EU monitors and others to inspect developments within both territories. Thousands of people remain displaced and families are living apart, dreaming of the day they will return to their homes. Economic reconstruction is on hold. The environment is being pillaged, particularly the coastline and rivers of Abkhazia, where thousands of tons of gravel are being removed for the construction of the Sochi Winter Olympics, threatening erosion for decades to come. There must be a better way.

The West, particularly the EU, has an important role to play in finding a solution in our region. There is no concealing the fact that Russia calls the shots in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. No solution can be arrived at unless the Russians engage, and it would be helpful if EU member states encouraged this. My proposals should leave no-one in any doubt that Georgia is making the progressive case for greater co-operation, coupled with measures to protect the autonomy and cultural diversity of both territories. I am grateful  for the consistent support I have had from EU capitals for Georgia’s territorial integrity. I know that re-integration brings responsibilities. I am aware that I have a great deal of work to do to convince the peoples of Abkhazia  and South Ossetia that their future is brighter as part of Georgia. But I am determined to work day and night to achieve a lasting peace in the Caucasus built on mutual respect and greater dialogue.

 

    
08 April 2010 Meeting with the EU Delegation
On April 8, 2010 the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration, Temuri Yakobashvili, met with an EU delegation.

The delegation was led by European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle, Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Ambassador Per Eklund and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

The participants discussed the situation in the occupied territories and the key points of the State Strategy aimed at the wellbeing of the population living in the territories.
     
The State Minister familiarized the delegation with the forthcoming Action Plan for the occupied territories. The EU delegation expressed its interest in participating in the development and implementation of the Action Plan.
 

    
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International sources about conflicts in Georgia
22 July 2010 Sukhumi Military Road - history and modern times
Russia began to seriously think about restoration of the Sukhumi Military Road. At the party conference of the Edynaya Rossia, which was held on July 5-6th in Nalchik and Kislovodsk and discussed issues of socio-economic development, the party leader Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin said that one of the priorities of infrastructure development in the region is to restore the Sukhumi Military Road. We know well the Georgian Military Road that connects Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz, but what...
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22 July 2010 Who is who? : Actions of Ossetians of Shida Kartli in the twenties of the XX century
The order of authorities of Soviet Russia towards Ossetians living in Georgia - putting Georgia in the state of war for the purpose of destruction of Georgian statehood – seriously raised an issue of independence of Georgia and physical survival of Georgian people. All the more that at the time there was a real danger of civil war and its permanent existence. Publications in the press of the time show how seriously Georgian political spectre of that time considered this danger poised by ...
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22 July 2010 Abkhazian expectations of Russian billions
Abkhazian media actively responded to statements made by head of the separatist regime Sergei Bagapsh about necessity of decisive fight against corruption in the region. The article about this was published by Abkhazian journalist Inal Khashig in the Nuzhnaya newspaper in the middle of June. The article was titled "Why has the government suddenly started to talk about corruption?" The author says "President of Abkhazia addresses the population to call to the office of the president and Prim...
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22 July 2010 ბაღაფში ვენესუელაში ჩავიდა
აფხაზეთის მარიონეტული რეჟიმის ლიდერი სერგეი ბაღაფში ნიკარაგუას შემდეგ ვენესუელას ეწვია. რუსული მედიის ცნობით, ბაღაფშს თან ახლავს მარიონეტული რეჟიმის დელეგაცია. როგორც სოხუმის ე.წ მთავრობის პრესსამსახური იუწყება, ვენესუელამდე ბაღაფშმა ნიკარაგუაში შეხვედრები გამართა ნიკარაგუას პრეზიდენტთან დანიელ ორტეგასთან და აფხაზეთის აღიარებისთვის მას და ნიკარაგუელებს მადლობა გადაუხადა. დანიელ ორტეგამ კი, თავის მხრივ, სხვა ქვეყნებსაც მოუწოდა აფხაზეთის აღიარებისკენ.
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22 July 2010 აფხაზეთში ნაღმზე 5 აფხაზი "მებაჟე" აფეთქდა
გალის რაიონის დაბალ ზონაში ავტომობილის აფეთქების შედეგად რამდენიმე აფხაზი მილიციელი მძიმედ დაშავდა. ნაბაკევი-ოტობაიას საზღვარზე ძლიერი აფეთქება გამთენიისას მოხდა. არსებული ინფორმაციით, ავტომობილ “უაზის” აფეთქება, რომელშიც აფხაზი მილიციელები იმყოფებოდნენ, რუს ოკუპანტებსა და აფხაზებს შორის დაპირისპირებას უკავშირდება. “შემთხვევა ხურჩის გადმოსასვლელთან ახლოს მოხდა. ეს საკმაოდ სარფიანი გადმოსასვლელია და მის გაკონტროლებაზე რუს ოკუპანტებსა და აფხაზ მილიციელებს მუდმივად დავა აქვთ. დღევანდელი აფე...
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State Minister

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Engagement Through Cooperation Action Plan for Engagement
- The letter of the President of the French Republic to the President of Georgia (French - original version)
- The letter of the President of the French Republic to the President of Georgia (English Version)
- Protocole d'accord (French - original version)
- 6 Points Document (English Version)  

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Q: Why reintegration Matters?
A: We have to return the Abkhaz and the Ossetian People and not only the territories...
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