The Co-Chairs of the Geneva international discussions on security in Transcaucasia, along with members of the South Ossetian delegation at the Geneva talks, led by Presidential Envoy to South Ossetia Murat Dzhioev have visited Leningor district of South Ossetia. On arrival in Leningor the delegation met with the leadership of the district.
At the beginning of the meeting Murat Dzhioev has noted that South Ossetian authorities pay special attention to the issues of Leningor district
"The fact is that for 17 years, till the war in August 2008, certain territory of Leningor district was under the jurisdiction of Georgia - said the envoy. - However, after the August events the Georgian authorities fraudulently lured the part of the district into the village of Tserovani (Georgia) as the refugees. Many of them are still living there. "
According to the ambassador plenipotentiary, in 2010 within the framework of the Geneva discussions, the South Ossetian authorities announced that they were ready to receive the citizens who wished to return to Leningor.
"Their return is not obstructed, their homes are safe and sound," - said Dzhioev.
The envoy noted that the South Ossetian leadership had been doing everything possible to create the necessary conditions for the residents of Leningor district.
"In consideration of the fact that the livelihoods of the people living in Leningor for 17 years, as well as in the Soviet period, were associated with Georgia, we try to keep for them a simplified procedure for crossing the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia - said Dzhioev. - Also, according to the decision of the government of South Ossetia, the residents of Leningor district can carry up to 50 kilograms of cargo for personal use across the border. "
The Deputy Head of the Leningor district administration Alex Baratashvili, in turn, has said that the law of Georgia "On Occupied Territories" creates a lot of restrictions for the villagers.
"If a resident of Leningor goes to Georgia, he carries penalty under administrative law; for the second time, while crossing the state border, he is subjected to criminal punishment," - said Baratashvili.
The Head of Leningor district Jemal Dzhigkae, has stressed that while under the jurisdiction of Georgia, the district was in a difficult situation.
"The Georgian government has not built anything in the area. Most of the homes are in poor condition, "- said Dzhigkaev.
He has noted that the district administration is trying to employ the experts living in the area.
"We have employed the local doctors who are working simultaneously in the territory of Georgia. Their salaries are higher here than in the neighboring state. And they have the intention to stay here, "- emphasized Dzhigkaev.
He also added that the situation in the district had changed little since the advent of the new government in Georgia.
"At our border with the Republic of Georgia the Georgian power structures, so to say, "were pressing" those residents of the district, who had something to do with me as the head of the district. In this regard, recently the situation has changed a bit for the better "- said Dzhigkaev.
In turn, the EU co-chairman of the Geneva discussions Philippe Lefort has expressed satisfaction with the visit to Leningor district.
"We understand that this is the problem area, and we hope that it will become an example of the transformation of the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia, the peaceful coexistence of the Georgian and Ossetian population", - said Lefort.
He has added that the co-chairs of the Geneva talks are ready to contribute to the solution of the problems in Leningor district in various fields.
After the meeting, the delegation visited the orphan asylum and a museum in Leningor, became familiar with some of the sales outlets of the settlement.
At the end of the visit to South Ossetia the co-chairs shared their impressions with reporters.
"I have visited the district for the first time; I`ve seen several facilities, including a good condition of the road to the settlement. I like that the people here are friendly, hard-working, engaged in farming and keeping everything in good condition, "- said the OSCE co-chair Andriy Deshchitsa.
He has added that the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions, for their part, are ready to assist the residents of the district in addressing their issues.
