And everybody will see that this is a war

Over the past few days Georgian, Russian and Ossetian representatives have been making some active hints that the war can be avoided, and that all of the sides are allegedly interested in not letting the war happen. Even some 'third force' was discovered, which is allegedly trying to provoke a war. Solemn promises not to shoot at each other were being made. Memorandums and agreements, valid only until night, were being singed. And Tuesday night became no exception.

During the day on Tuesday August 16 Chief of Staff of Georgian Armed Forces Givi Iukuridze met with the military leadership of breakaway republic of South Ossetia in South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali. Commander of the Russian troops General Nabdzorov attended the meeting as well.

Givi Iukuridze told journalists after the meeting that the issue of presence of armed groups in the conflict zone – which are not loyal to either Georgia or South Ossetia -- was being discussed.

«Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) authorities claim that these groups are the third force. All of it needs to be verified», Georgia’s Chief of Staff Givi Iukuridze said in a conversation with journalists. According to him, such meetings will be held in the future as well.

Besides, Prime Minster of Georgia Zurab Zhvania said that Georgian government is ready to start negotiations to determine the status of the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).

«The final determination of status of the Tskhinvali region is the issue without which permanent and firm peace will be hard to reach», Zhvania told journalists. He said that territory with uncertain status will be a permanent source of tensions and conflicts.

«A territory with lots of problems, where it is not clear who is supposed to be holding a submachine gun or a rifle and why, -- a territory where the main issues were not determined – will always be a source of permanent tensions and conflicts», Georgian Premier stressed.

Negotiations are negotiations, but a war is a war. After making these statements and holding these meetings, both sides got heavy artillery pulled up. Russian news agency RIA-Novosti was reporting referring to Chairman of Committee of Information and Press of South Ossetia Irina Gagloyeva that shooting in Tskhinvali region already involves heavy artillery, howitzers and machineguns. This report was received Tuesday evening.

Irina Gagloyeva says that the shots were being fired for about an hour and a half from the direction of Georgian villages Tamarsheni and Eredvi.

«So far South Ossetian leadership issued the order not to respond to the fire», Gagloyeva stressed.

Later on the Ossetian side announced that Georgian troops started artillery strikes on downtown Tskhinvali.

But regional headquarters of Georgian police, however, stated that the artillery strikes were coming from the direction of Ossetian villages Sarabuki and Kokhati.

The regional police reported the Georgian village of Eredvi and the detour road connecting Maly Liahvy and Bolshoi Liahvy came under an attack. Georgian side reported that Russian-made Grad (“Hail”) missile launchers and D-30 howitzers were used in the artillery shelling. Georgian officials reported that Georgia did not open fire in response.

At night an urgent report was received: Georgia started storming the South Ossetian village of Sarabuk. This report came from Deputy Minister of Defense of South Ossetia, Ibrahim Gassiyev.

«Two units of Georgian armored vehicles and a large number of infantry are advancing towards the village of Sarabuk», Gassiyev said.

According to his information, the artillery deployed in the village of Eredvi is firing at the village of Sarabuk and at South Ossetian positions in Prisi.

Almost for sure, the parties will resume negotiations Wednesday during the day and will promise not to start a war. There will be more portions of reciprocal accusations, threats and persuasions towards each other. Then the night will fall. And everything will get started all over again. And it will be continuing until shooting stops at the break of dawn. And everybody will see that this is a war going on.

Anzor Tsinamdzgrshvili, Tbilisi, Georgia.