Georgia needs to understand that Russia's recognition of South Ossetia's independence will not change, and move toward building constructive relations, South Ossetian Foreign Minister Akhsar Dzhioev told RIA Novosti.
"Regarding Tbilisi's calls for Russia to withdraw from South Ossetia and revoke its recognition, we have repeatedly seen the Russian Federation emphasize these decisions at the highest level. And Russia, as a nuclear power and a major global power, will not reverse these decisions. I think Georgia needs to accept and recognize these realities," he said
The South Ossetian Foreign Minister believes that Georgia is not yet ready to accept these new realities and build constructive relations with South Ossetia and Abkhazia as the subjects of international law.
"Georgia is not yet ready, but I hope that this will happen in the near future," he added.
On the night of August 8, 2008, Georgia fired Grad multiple rocket launchers at South Ossetia. Georgian forces attacked the Republic and heavily damaged its capital, Tskhinval. Russia, defending the South Ossetian residents, many of whom were Russian citizens, sent troops into the Republic and, after five days of fighting, drove the Georgian forces out.
On August 26 of that year, Moscow recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and another former Georgian autonomous region, Abkhazia.
Russian leaders have repeatedly stated that this recognition reflects current realities and is not subject to revision. Georgia, for its part, continues to reject Abkhazia and South Ossetia, considering them its own regions.
