Belarusian MPs to leave out conclusions in S Ossetia report

BelTA
November 24, 2009

"We will just present objective information about the things we saw in South Ossetia without arriving at any conclusions, just stating the facts. After that we will consider this issue at a session of the Permanent Commission for the International Affairs and Relations with the CIS. This will be the first stage. Then the commission will decide what to do: either to make conclusions or introduce proposals," the deputy said. He added that after coming back from the trip the deputies need time to "comprehend, systemize all the things and set them forth."

Talking about his impressions of visiting South Ossetia he said that "the trip was very fruitful." The interest area of the parliamentary delegation covered a wide range of issues, including economy, politics and social development. "South Ossetia assisted us in all the ways possible. We saw what we wanted and met with who we wanted. Nothing was pre-arranged," Vladimir Kuzhanov said. The MPs held meetings with representatives of all the branches of government, including the president, public figures and intellectuals.

"We traveled right to the border where the military operation started. We had people approaching us, telling us their stories. The situation is, of course, horrible. There was no need to gloss anything over. Everything was obvious," the deputy said.

Asked whether South Ossetia has attributes of a sovereign state, Vladimir Kuzhanov said that "the most important thing for them now is to restore the economy." The infrastructure is in ruins. So are the plants and governmental buildings. "This cannot be done in a day or even a year. But they aim for the growth. They try to form their own budget," the deputy said.

A delegation of Belarusian MPs consisting of eight deputies of the House of Representatives and four senators of the Council of the Republic was on a visit to Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 17-20 November. The aim of the visit was to study the situation onsite for the Belarusian parliament to continue the discussion on recognition or non-recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.