“When you respond to the concepts of repentance and reconciliation with hysteria, it is clear that you regard war as the only means to address the issue. In such a case, it is not surprising when you are labelled a war party,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated during a press conference at the Government Administration.

The Prime Minister’s remarks followed a statement made by the Honorary Chairman of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, in Gori, where he discussed the importance of reconciliation between the Georgian and Ossetian people while criticizing the “unhealthy disquiet” displayed by their opponents.

“It is a fundamental truth that the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity can only be achieved in two ways: through war or reconciliation. You would agree that following a war, reconciliation is unattainable without repentance. When you face the ideas of repentance and reconciliation with hysteria, it becomes evident that you perceive war as the sole solution. Thus, you cannot be surprised when you are labelled a war party,” Kobakhidze emphasized.

Bidzina Ivanishvili remarked that Georgians owed an apology to the Ossetians due to the conflict instigated by Saakashvili’s regime. Kobakhidze pointed out that the entire team had maintained for over a month that it was Saakashvili’s regime that initiated the war; therefore, Ivanishvili’s statement was nothing new.

“The radical opposition has yet to address the topic of who started the war, and they likely will not, since their leaders, along with President Salome Zourabichvili, have acknowledged at various times that it was Saakashvili’s regime that initiated this conflict,” he added.