Saakahsvili said in his public address in the square of Vorontsov that it was in fact his own idea to have a statue erected as an expression of respect for Hetagurov.

“Hetagurov is not only a superb talent that represents the Ossetians but also is a special phenomenon of the Ossetian culture. Hetagurov is not only a famous man of action but also is a symbol of the Ossetian appreciation of both Georgia and Georgians,” said the Georgian president. “He is a really famous art talent of the Ossetians.”

Saakashvili’s portrayal of Hetagurov seemed to be embroidered with words that appealed very much to the Georgian dream of Ossetia .

Saakashvili’s words signalled continuation in efforts to help develop Ossetian language and culture across .

“No other country than can ever make it possible for the Ossetians to improve themselves as an ethnic group of people. It is with joy to observe that the cultural integration of Georgians with Ossetians has recently started afresh. Nobody will be successful in their plans to push South Ossetia outside the Caucasian range of mountains. It is simply an act of lying on the part of those who argue that South Ossetia must be pushed outside the mountains and must be rendered dependent on a different country. This is impossible to happen,” said Saakashvili. “I’d like to say that the conflict situation will soon be brought under extensive work of analysis and will hopefully be resolved.”

Saakashvili made it plain in 2003 while he was campaigning for the elections that he would strive, if elected the president, to merge Ossetia with his country. His idea of getting Hetagurov’s statue erected in Tbilisi appeared to be a drive on his part to win over the Ossetians.  

Hetagurov was born in the village of Nar in 15 October 1859. He did some painting, acting, translation and criticism of drama. He was also involved in some work of dramaturgy. He was fluent in a couple of Caucasian languages as well as in French. His first Ossetian collection of poems appeared in May of 1899. North Caucasians consider the publication date of his first collection of poems as an important milestone in their history and mark it as the Day of National Language and Literature in annual celebrations. ÖZ/FT