GEORGIA: Re-elected South Ossetian President says he will concentrate on gaining independence from Georgia

Eduard Kokoity, president of Georgian's rebel republic of South Ossetia, said on Monday (November 13) that yesterday's referendum reaffirmed the wish of his people and vowed to push for independence for his republic. Kokoity was speaking after first results of Sunday's (November 12) referendum showed 90 percent of people had voted in favour of independence for the small republic. The vote is seen as illegal in the West and there were no Western monitors present at the poll, but Russia says it should be respected. "Our people voted with one voice for the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. We are going to continue our fight using all civilised methods to achieve the wish put forward by our people through yesterday's referendum that reaffirmed the outcome of the referendum of 1992. Sixteen years have past, but the people of South Ossetia have not changed their mind. It is a great honour to serve these people," Koikoty told journalists at a press conference. Set on the Russian border in the Caucasus mountain foothills, South Ossetia broke away after a 1991-92 war that killed hundreds and forced tens of thousands to flee. But amid increased tensions within Georgia, whose pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili wants to recover control of the region, voters went to the polls to re-affirm their independence drive and elect a regional leader. "We believe that in the future we have to concentrate our efforts to solve the conflict in a civilised and peaceful way, we have to put strong pressure on the Georgian leadership who are trying to obstruct negotiations about the conflicts in Ossetia and Abkhazia. We should not give in to the Georgian wish to start a war in the Caucasus. The main threat today to peace in the Caucasus comes from the totalitarian regime of Saakashvili," Kokoity said. Most western nations have refused to recognise the vote and some said it would lead to extra tensions. But Kokoity said he hoped to use the referendum as a tool in future negotiations. "The referendum is a very strong and weighty argument for all negotiations, even with those who refuse to recognise this referendum. Even if they don't recognise it today, they will for sure have to recognise both the referendum and presidential elections tomorrow. Generally speaking, we can say that South Ossetia is already recognised", he said Election officials said more than 90 percent of some 55,000 eligible voters turned out for the polls.

ITN Source | November 13, 2006

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