Confusion of concepts and attempts to disguise territorial claims with religious slogans cannot change reality in any way, – this is how the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs of occupied Tskhinvali responds to the statement made by Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III at the symposium “God, Homeland, Human” dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia.

“Statements about ‘ancient historical lands’ and calls for South Ossetia to ‘join’ Georgia, which are packaged in the usual discourse about faith and brotherhood, are nothing other than the continuation of old political rhetoric in a new, spiritual packaging. Unfortunately, Georgian clergy, just like political figures, continue to use incorrect terminology in relation to the Republic of South Ossetia and refer to it with the derogatory term ‘Tskhinvali region’,” – they state in the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to their claim, in the documents of negotiations held with the participation of international structures, South Ossetia is mentioned by its “actual name,” which authorized Georgian politicians also sign.

“The thesis about Georgia’s so-called ancient historical lands in the context of South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be considered separately, and it should be remembered that historical facts speak to the contrary,” – is noted in the statement.

According to the claim of the so-called agency, the head of the Georgian Church, “without mentioning the victims and suffering of the peaceful population of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and without expressing remorse for the crimes committed by Georgia’s political regimes against the Ossetian and Abkhaz peoples, expressed the hope of ‘restoring brotherly unity and love’.”

“In South Ossetia they well remember how much sorrow Georgia’s so-called brotherly Christian love brought in the 1920s, in 1989–1992 and in 2008. Against the background of ignoring obvious facts, such ‘good intentions’ are unacceptable for our republic,” – is noted in the statement.

We remind you that the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia addressed citizens living in the occupied territories and emigrants. As Shio III stated at the symposium “God, Homeland, Human” dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the declaration of Christianity as the state religion in Georgia, Georgia’s indigenous historical regions should continue to exist in peace together with the mother homeland.

“Today our thoughts and prayers are especially directed to the people living in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region; these indigenous historical regions of Georgia should continue to exist in peace together with the mother homeland with the faith and love of Christ. With the Lord’s help this will be so, and brotherly unity and love will again be restored among us,” – noted the Patriarch.