GEORGIA: Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia is set to vote for independence from Georgia in a referendum on Sunday

Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia is set to vote for independence from Tbilisi in a referendum on Sunday (November 12), but apart from producing a flurry of angry rhetoric, the ballot is unlikely to bring a solution to one of the ex-Soviet Union's "frozen conflicts." The separatist statelet of about 70,000 people threw off Georgian rule in a war that ended 14 years ago. A peace keeping force provided by Russia and Georgia has monitored a 1992 truce. The majority of the South Ossetians, ethnically distinct from Georgians, say they were forcibly absorbed into Georgia under Soviet rule and now want to exercise their right to self-determination. Sunday's referendum will ask voters to re-affirm their support for a split that Georgia condemns as illegal and has vowed to reverse. "I want you to be sure that we are convinced of our strength and we know that the results of both the presidential elections and the referendum will be overwhelming. I would like to say in advance that we will not make compromises with traitors," said the region's President Eduard Kokoity when addressing a crowd in the centre of the region's capital of Tskhinvali. South Ossetians will also vote on Sunday in a presidential election. Incumbent Kokoity has no serious rivals. The "Yes" vote is almost certain to win by a big margin. "Because we are receiving all our products from Russia, they pay our salaries, they pay pensions to our people," said one resident. "With Georgia it is always bad here," said another. Georgia's conflict with South Ossetia -- and a second breakaway region of Abkhazia -- have pitted it against Moscow. Most residents hold Russian passports and Georgia accuses Moscow of effectively annexing the regions. The referendum comes as relations between Moscow and Tbilisi are at rock bottom. Russia cut transport links last month after a spying row and it now says it may cut gas supplies unless Georgia agrees to a twofold price increase. But Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili seemed unmoved by the upcoming referendum. "Georgia has no plans and never had any plans for any other solutions but autonomy within our borders and strong incentives for economic development. Last thing Georgia wants is trouble," Saakashvili told journalists in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Despite a 1992 ceasefire, gun fights still flare up in the rolling, wooded hinterland around the separatists' territory, in the foothills of the snow-covered Caucasus mountains. Some observers predict new violence this weekend, though a Reuters reporter in South Ossetia this week said there was no sign of increased military activity. The referendum has already underlined the international divisions over South Ossetia. In Russia, Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov stopped short of recognising the vote, but said it would send "an important signal to Tbilisi". Washington said the vote would "exacerbate tensions", while the European Union said it had no significance. The NATO military alliance also condemned the referendum, saying it would increase tensions in the region. Residents in Georgian villages dotted around the region can vote in an alternative ballot, with pro-Tbilisi politician Dmitry Sanakoyev the favourite. The separatists said that vote is a ploy by Tbilisi to split their ranks.

ITN Source | November 12, 2006

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