Spartak Zhidkov: Five-Day War helped to get rid of anti-Russian sentiment in the Caucasus

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Five-Day War, the Georgian authorities published two statements on the possibility of the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia. As previously reported by Vestnik Kavkaza, the Minister of Justice of Georgia Thea Tsulukiani said that the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia should take place without preconditions. "If the negotiating table is not open, we will not be able to thoroughly discuss any issue, including the issue of territorial integrity. Therefore, diplomatic relations should be restored without any preconditions or replacement promises," Tsulukiani said.

Special Representative of the Prime Minister for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze, in turn, took a softer stance, noting that the very process of promoting settlement of differences between the two countries could lead to the restoration of diplomatic relations. "Our Russian colleagues are well aware that in the current situation Georgia will not accept the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia. This step of ours will be seen throughout the world as our reconciliation with the new reality and the abandonment of those areas. Restoration of diplomatic relations may occur at some point, if the process of rehabilitation of relations with Russia is  promoted, and there will have been some progress and major breakthroughs," he explained.

At the same time, Abashidze said, the first, economic, step has already been taken. "Perhaps, in September-October, we move on to the second stage, as we begin a discussion of serious topics. This process will not be quick. We have always stressed that it will be a long and complicated process," Abashidze underlined.

A member of the Writers' Union of Russia, member of the board of the Abkhazian media club "Einar" Spartak Zhidkov spoke with Vestnik Kavkaza about what has been achieved in the five-day war. He stressed that it was the deployment of Russian troops in Tskhinvali to help the Ossetians that helped to get rid of anti-Russian sentiment in the Caucasus. Otherwise, Moscow would have demonstrated its weakness and inertia, and "inevitably it would have lost the respect of Caucasians, and thus the strategic initiative, which today remains full."