17:01, 17 June 2004

Georgia promises to resume supply of gas to South Osetia

The supply of natural gas to South Osetia has been cut off for the last day. Itera Georgia Company made such a decision proceeding from South Osetia's debt estimated at 1.7 million rubles. The Georgian side asserts this step is not connected with the recent worsening of relations. However, in the present situation, the South Osetian side has rated the measures taken as political pressure.

The co-chairmen of the Combined Control Commission for the Osetian and Georgian sides, Boris Chochiyev and Georgy Khaindrava, had a telephone conversation today. Boris Chochiyev reminded his colleague that the population of Georgian villages that are not under the jurisdiction of the Republic of South Osetia owed the South Osetian budget 12 million rubles for electric power. It has used electricity free off charge in fact for all years that have passed after the military phase of the Georgian-Osetian conflict. Mr Chochiyev touched upon this debt not in the form of an ultimatum. But Georgy Khaindrava promised he would take all necessary measures to resume the supply of gas to South Osetia today, June 17.

Author: Inga Kochiyeva, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot