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PACE calls for open access to conflict zone between Russia and Georgia (UPDATE)

23 January 2013 19:15 (UTC+04:00)
PACE calls for open access to conflict zone between Russia and Georgia (UPDATE)

By Sabina Idayatova

PACE rapporteur on the humanitarian consequences of the 'war between Georgia and Russia in 2008', Swedish MP Tina Aketoft is advocating for free access to the conflict zone, Trend news agency reported referring to RIA Novosti.

While presenting her report to European parliamentarians, Aketoft noted that during the two years of preparation of the document, she faced 'the problem of access to the territories" of the conflict.

The speaker acknowledged that while preparing her paper, she could not visit South Ossetia. "I could not go there," she said, adding that "access was blocked."

"This was more important to politicians, rather than giving me the opportunity to visit the region," she said, without naming who precisely refused the request of giving her the opportunity to visit South Ossetia.

Describing the situation as a whole, Aketoft indicated that "the situation in the region is better than immediately after the conflict, but the problems in the humanitarian sphere remain unchanged, especially concerning the refugee issue."

On Wednesday, PACE discussed her report on the humanitarian implications of the 'war between Georgia and Russia in 2008'. Following the report, MEPs began a debate. They will then vote on the points of the final resolution.

Large scale military action was launched in South Ossetia in Georgia on August 8, 2008. Later Russian troops invaded Tskhinvali and expelled the Georgian military. Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia later in August. Tbilisi severed diplomatic relations with Moscow in response and announced the two unrecognised republics as occupied territories.

Meanwhile, deputy head of the Russian delegation to PACE, Leonid Slutsky, hopes that they will be able to start dialogue on the humanitarian issues with the Georgian colleagues at PACE.

Slutsky while speaking at the debate on the report also stated that because of the political issues the Russian delegation is not ready to cooperate yet.

Commenting on Aketoft`s document, Slutsky said that the Russian delegation will not support it.

"There is a large bias in favor of Georgian refugees," he explained, adding that nothing was mentioned in the document about South Ossetian refugees.

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