The Agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the Republic of South Ossetia and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation was signed today in Tskhinval by the President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity and the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Valery Shantsev.
"After the Protocol on intentions was signed during the visit to Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, today we start implementing a full-scale agreement that will facilitate further development of our relationships. We attach great importance to the contacts with the regions of Russia ", Kokoity said at the signing ceremony.
In his turn, Valery Shantsev pointed to the necessity to start the implementing the signed agreement as soon as possible.
"A brief trip around your country has shown how rich it is, and that much of your opportunities are unavailable in Nizhny Novgorod oblast. At the same time, our region is a region, where science, industry, economy are developed. Therefore, our cooperation is going to be mutually beneficial ", said Shantsev.
He expressed gratitude to South Ossetia for the moral and material support to Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, which was severely damaged by summer fires.
"A terrible firestorm had destroyed over 700 houses in a few hours and among all the letters of support that we received, the letter to the President of South Ossetia was the most encouraging and looked forward. Those, who themselves have gone through misery and suffering, better understand other people's sufferings, and this mutual understanding is the foundation of our friendship and cooperation ", said the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
In the conclusion of the signing ceremony, Eduard Kokoity has awarded Valery Shantsev and members of the Nizhny Novgorod delegation with medal "In commemoration of the 20 th anniversary of the Republic of South Ossetia."
The agreement signed today provides for the development of bilateral relations in trade, economic, scientific-technological and cultural fields. Particular attention is paid to developing cooperation in the spheres of industrial production, agriculture, processing and mutual supplies of fruits and vegetables, support to small and medium business, resorts' development, tourism and sports, education, youth and social policy.
The parties also agreed on the development and implementation of joint investment projects aimed at reconstruction and modernization of enterprises and creation of new production facilities. Interaction will be implemented in the field of construction and housing, as well as communal services. The agreement provides for the establishment of cooperation in the field of foreign economic relations, in particular, by means of organizing joint exhibitions and fairs, congresses, forums and seminars.
In order to coordinate cooperation and monitoring of the implementation of the agreement, to exchange views on matters of mutual interest, the parties intend to conduct regular working meetings, consultations and negotiations. If necessary, the can also form joint expert analytical and other relevant working groups to address specific problems across the whole spectrum of issues under the agreement on cooperation.
Earlier, agreements on trade, economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation were concluded between the Republic of South Ossetia and the governments of Ulyanovsk and Arkhangelsk regions. Similar agreements are to be signed with a number of other regions of Russia.
