Question: Could you comment on the recent statement in the UNGA First Committee of the Permanent Representative of Georgia, Revaz Adamia, concerning the rearmament by Russia of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the continued stationing of the Russian military base (RMB) at Gudauta in violation of CFE obligations and the necessity to work out some new mechanisms which would take up the problem of the "territories and regions not controlled by the state"?

Commentary: In our view, the judgements expressed by Mr. Adamia either attest to his ignorance of the actual state of affairs or represent yet another step to whip up tensions around the Georgian-Ossetian and Georgian-Abkhaz conflicts.

It is known that the new exacerbation began with the mortar attack from Georgian territory on residential areas of Tskhinvali on September 20, 2005. What makes us cautious is that the previous statements of Tbilisi about its adherence to a peaceful settlement of the conflicts are now practically not being heard. One should also note the tripling in the last two years of the military expenditures of Georgia, and the sharp increase in purchases by Tbilisi of weapons and military equipment from abroad, NATO countries in particular, which evidences the plans of Tbilisi for a force-based solution to the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts. In a word, instead of restraint and real steps towards restoration of trust and peaceful settlement, the desire of the Georgian authorities to take the path of confrontation and of fomenting conflicts is visible.

Neither do the remarks of Mr. Adamia regarding the allegedly continued functioning of the Gudauta RMB stand up to criticism. This base has long since been dismantled. As early as 2001 Russia under the control of international inspectors withdrew weapons and equipment from there. Moreover, in accordance with the agreements reached in May 2005 Russia has begun the withdrawal of Batumi and Akhalkalaki RMBs, the removal of a part of the military equipment and the transfer to Georgia of the facilities of the Group of Russian Forces in Transcaucasia.

Mr. Adamia went as far as to say that Russia was supporting terrorists in the Caucasus. A greater absurdity is impossible to think up. It is common knowledge that we are waging a ruthless fight against terrorists. That is why the Russian side continues to have serious questions about Tbilisi's connivance with the terrorists who have entrenched themselves in the Pankisi Gorge and in a number of other regions of Georgia.

To all who are familiar with the realities of the Georgian political kitchen it is understandable what is behind the inventions of Mr. Adamia: under the cover of all kinds of cock-and-bull stories that are being circulated from the UN rostrum as well, an anti-Russian campaign is again being whipped up in Georgia that aims to denigrate the role of the peacekeeping activities of Russia in conflict settlement and thus open the way for a force-based solution to these problems. This is a dangerous path, fraught with grave consequences for Georgia itself. There is the sad experience of such scenarios, and Tbilisi ought to well remember that.