Question: How would you assess the article ''Zerschmetterter Traum'' ("Smashed Dream") that was published in today's edition of the German News Magazine "Der Spiegel" regarding the findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia?

Answer: Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot comment on this article, however notes that the Head of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission, Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini has responded to the issue. Below please find the above comment:

The German News Magazine "Der Spiegel" in today's edition (25/2009) published a two page article under the heading "Zerschmetterter Traum" ("Smashed Dream") which reflects on the work of IIFFMCG in a largely speculative and unsubstantiated way. In this context I would like to state the following:

The Spiegel's article is not based on information provided by the Head of IIFFMCG, Ambassador Tagliavini, or any other authorized sources. On behalf of IIFFMCG there has been no interview, background briefing or any other way of communication in order to provide information for the article.

The article's contents on the findings of the Mission are entirely fictious as regards the so-called majority views among Mission's members relating to the alleged responsibility for the outbreak of hostilities or the alleged violation by either side of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians.

The report which shall be presented to the EU Council of Ministers by 31 July 2009 comes under the sole and exclusive responsibility of Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, and not under the responsibility of the Mission's experts or the majority of its experts. All experts' opinions are subject to the approval by the Head of Mission before being included in the Report, and not any of the contributions can be considered by itself as representing the Mission's findings.

Contrary to the allegations referred to in the article, there is not and has never been any reluctance or unwillingness on behalf of IIFFMCG to interview senior U.S. diplomats such as former Assistant Secretary for Europe Daniel Fried on America's role in the conflict. Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried was interviewed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini and her deputy former German Ambassador Uwe Schramm at the State Department in Washington on 14 May, together with other senior members of the U.S. administration such as Deputy Assistant Secretary Matt Bryza and others. U.S. Ambassador John Tefft had been spoken to already on several previous occasions.

The work of IIFFMCG is continuing. Until the process of collecting and evaluating of all relevant facts has been completed, no final conclusions will be drawn.

Heidi Tagliavini
Ambassador and Head of Mission