Ossetian Side Raised Question of Reconstruction of Tiriponi Channel

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Shida Kartli

Ossetian side raised issue of reconstruction of Tiriponi Channel at the 33th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism Meeting in Ergneti on April 16, 2013. Their representative Khokh Gagloiti spoke about the issue during the meeting.

Human Rights Center publishes full text of Khokh Gagloiti’s comment during the meeting: “We have discussed many issues listed in our agenda. So, I will have to discuss all of them in details. First of all, we spoke about the number of incidents revealed by the statistics, which occurred on the border line between South Ossetia and Georgia. The number of incidents has not increased. South Ossetian Delegation raised question on necessity to reconstruct Tiriponi Irrigation Channel. I would like to tell you that it is the main artery for the irrigation of our plots. Village population irrigated their plots with the support of the Tiriponi Channel before 2000 when the channel stopped functioning. The reason is that he water flew into Tiriponi Channel from Tskhinvali town, and then it ran across Georgian territory but could not reach Tsinagari zone for certain reasons. We have declared our position. In order to mutually use this channel, we need guarantees from Georgian side that Tsinagari zone shall be fully supplied with its water. Georgian side noted that first of all we should consider approach of specialists and OSCE representatives to this issue which will be discussed at our next meeting or even earlier.

It should also be taken into consideration that summer works have already started and Georgian side expressed readiness to present successful examples of joint projects from world practice and to make final decision with regard to usage of Tiriponi Channel after having studied those examples. If we receive guarantees from the Georgian side that Tsinagara Zone is supplied with water, we are ready to start restoration and cleaning activities in Tiriponi Channel.

As for security of farmers, relevant administrative bodies from concrete territories will be responsible for the security of farmers. Considering the ongoing summer works in fields, they can act in the frame of State Security Protection.”

The meetings are organized with joint support of EUMM and OSCE.

Before Tskhinvali finally closed the Tiriponi Irrigation Channel (before 2008), little amount of water reached Ossetian villages (Orchosani and Tsinagara). The villages are located near Gori-Tbilisi central motorway close to Shavshvebi and Nadarbazevi villages.

The channel taking start from Tskhinvali initially runs through Georgian villages of Gori district and then reaches the aforementioned Ossetian villages. The problem about reaching Tsinagara and Orchosani villages was caused by poor cleaning activities of the channel; the water flowing in the channel was not enough even for Georgian villages because of its being polluted.

“Georgian side has raised an issue concerning problems of the village population with the freedom of movement and securing safe environment to enable villagers to conduct agricultural works.  Georgian side has put forward a proposal to the representatives of Tskhinvali de facto government on enabling members of Georgian delegation to visit inmates in Tskhinvali prison. Head of Informational-Analytical Department has assured representatives of Tskhinvali de facto government to provide with an opportunity of visiting ethnic Ossetian inmates in Georgian penitentiary facilities. Georgian side will again raise an issue concerning restoration of damaged water system in Akhalgori district and alienation of concrete-mixer vehicle, which was seized from Zemo Nikozi village on September 28, 2012,” the statement of the MIA reads.