Georgian MPs ask EU to replace term ‘South Ossetia’ with ‘Tskhinvali Region’
Opposition MPs from Strategy Aghmashenebeli and Lelo parties also agreed with the ruling party deputy, who also explained “per modern Georgian legislation, Tskhinvali region fully covers the territory that once was the former South Ossetian Autonomous District.” Photo: Parliament of Georgia.
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A group of Georgian parliament members have asked Sven Mikser, visiting member of the European Parliament, to convey to the European Union the Georgian lawmakers’ preference to have the term ‘South Ossetia’ replaced with ‘Tskhinvali Region’ when making references to the Russian-occupied central Georgian region.
Ruling Georgian Dream party MP Nikoloz Samkharadze made the suggestion to Mikser, on an official visit to Georgia, over replacing the term in future references during a session of the foreign relations committee of the parliament on Thursday.
Samkharadze said the term ‘South Ossetia’ was not recognised by the Constitution of Georgia, characterising it as a “Stalinist term” and adding it was “not pleasant when the EU or any of our partner states” used it.
Political compromises are a sign of maturity and strength. This is what Georgia needs to fulfil the European aspirations of its people. @Geoparliament pic.twitter.com/J910oTe9Ri
— Sven Mikser (@svenmikser) February 3, 2022
Opposition MPs from Strategy Aghmashenebeli and Lelo parties also agreed with the ruling party deputy, who also explained “per modern Georgian legislation, Tskhinvali region fully covers the territory that once was the former South Ossetian Autonomous District.”
Mikser, the European Parliament Rapporteur for Georgia, noted the request, adding he found it “very important and consistent”. The MEP said the request was “not offensive to us and, of course, this should be noted and taken into account when developing European documents in the future.”
During his visit to Georgia, Mikser has already met with Georgian president Salome Zurabishvili for discussions of her national reconciliation initiative between the ruling party and political opposition.