Sergey Rekeda, exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
After the changing of power in Georgia in autumn 2012, observers of the situation over its former autonomies noted several signs on changing of Tbilisi’s policy toward South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The North Caucasus vector of Georgian policy may be altered as well. Nobody talks any more about a boycott of the Sochi Olympics; fewer and fewer people support international recognition of “Circassian people genocide.” However, experts say that Tbilisi’s policy toward the North Caucasus simply became more delicate and we cannot say about its dramatic change.
Georgian experts, including officials of non-commercial organizations and scientists, arrived in North Ossetia yesterday (for the first time since August 2008). Their visit was organized by the Caucasian Cooperation, a non-commercial partnership, to give Georgian experts an image of events in the North Caucasus and public opinion about Georgia, to show an alternative point of view in the Georgian society on what is going on in the country.
“I do not represent Georgia’s authorities, but I know many officials,” Georgy Gvimradze, a senior scientist of the center for strategic studies, says. “I am glad that the power in Georgia has changed. A lot of mistakes were made, not only in 2008. We have to admit our mistakes.” He noted that the Georgian parliament was considering amendments to the law on occupied territories to improve ties with South Ossetia. Moreover, Georgian authorities planned to re-launch the market in Ergneti on the Georgian – South Ossetian border. The market had been operating from the 1990s to the Rose Revolution in Tbilisi.
The Georgian officials visited a local Georgian school, which has classes in Georgian, Russian, Ossetian and English, attended a round-table conference at the North Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies, the Friendship Center to meet representatives of public organizations, such as Ertoba, a structure with about 10,000 Georgians.
The Georgian guests plan to visit Makhachkala and Nalchik.
