Андрей Тадтаев

The Treaty of alliance and integration between South Ossetia and Russia reflects all the opinions and suggestions received during the work on the document by the Political Council under the President of the Republic and the Russian-Ossetian working group,said today at a press conference in Tskhinval the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov.

"I would like to thank certain citizens, public and political associations, all our people for active participation in drafting the Treaty and supporting of the idea of its signing," - said the head of state.

Leonid Tibilov has noted that the draft Treaty, practically unchanged, was approved by the executive bodies of the two countries and was signed on March 18 in Moscow.

"The agreement meets the interests of South Ossetia and Russia," - said the president.

Referring the theme of accession of South Ossetia to Russia, the President has noted that this issue is not yet on the agenda in the relations between the two countries, but did not eliminate such a possibility in the future.

"It is very symbolic that the meeting, in the course of which the presidents of South Ossetia and Russia signed the Treaty of alliance and integration was held March 18 - the day when a year ago was signed a treaty of accession of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol to Russia. Maybe for South Ossetia will come the day, "- said the president.

The idea of accession of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation is close to all the Ossetian people and some politicians and political parties should not use it to extract political dividends.

"For the time being we will be working within the framework of the existing agreements", - said Leonid Tibilov.

He has also stressed that foreign policy is the prerogative of the President and one should not invade this area.

"If anyone has any opinion or suggestions, I will, certainly, listen to both young people and the older generation," - said the head of state.

The resolution has been published today on the website of the government of the Russian Federation.
"The Treaty is a basic document for the phased establishment of closer cooperation in socio- economic and humanitarian spheres between Russia and South Ossetia, as well as in matters of foreign policy, defense and security while preserving the state sovereignty of South Ossetia", - is stated in the resolution.
The document says, that in furtherance of the treaty will be concluded separate agreements in the listed areas of cooperation, including on the formation of a common space of defense and security, combating organized crime.
The Treaty will be concluded for 25 years and may be extended for successive ten-year periods. The Treaty is subject to ratification as establishes rules different from those provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
The resolution emphasizes that the signing of the Treaty will contribute to strengthening the legal framework of the Russian-Ossetian cooperation.

South Ossetia sent humanitarian aid to the Rostov region of Russia, where is located the camp of refugees from the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic Eric Pukhaev, the humanitarian aid consists of bedding, clothing, daily necessities, as well as mineral water.

The development of the draft Treaty of alliance and integration between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation has reached the final stage. The document has already been agreed with the South Ossetian ministries and agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent it to the Russian Foreign Ministry for a similar procedure in the Russian Federation.

South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov thanked the members of the Political Council for unanimity and responsible approach in drafting the Treaty of Alliance and integration between South Ossetia and Russia.
"It was a serious and hard work. Thank you for a responsible approach and unanimity. Both the political council and the working group were actively working on the proposals received from the public, political parties, individual citizens", - said the president today at a meeting of the political council.
According to the president, this work resulted in the South Ossetian draft Treaty which was then sent for approval to Moscow.

All the plans for implementation of the Investment program to promote socio-economic development of South Ossetia for 2014 are practically implemented. This was stated by the President of the Republic Leonid Tibilov at the meeting with the government and managers of construction companies involved in the Program implementation.

The new agreement between South Ossetia and Russia should wear maximally integrative. This opinion was expressed by the Chairman of the Parliament of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov at a press conference organized by the state Committee of Information and Press of South Ossetia within the framework of the project "The open government".

Normalization of relations between South Ossetia and Georgia is only possible as between the independent neighbouring states on an equitable basis, stated the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov, commenting on the words of President Vladimir Putin, during the today`s annual press conference, that Tbilisi must make direct contact and political dialogue with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"The Georgian-Ossetian conflict, which lasted since the late 80-ies of the last century, was completed in August 2008, when Georgia unleashed the war against South Ossetia. The Russian Federation helped the people of South Ossetia to repel the aggressor, and then recognized the independence of South Ossetia. Since then the normalization of relations is only possible as between the neighboring countries on an equitable basis," said Leonid Tibilov.
He has noted that Vladimir Putin has rightly pointed to the need for direct dialogue.
"Russia for many years has been doing everything to maintain peace in the South Caucasus and to prevent the recurrence of the genocide of Ossetians, committed by Georgia in 1920. Georgia has chosen a different path. A direct consequence of this choice is the change of realities, and Georgia should consider these realities. South Ossetia is the independent state, and Georgia must realize this fact," said the head of state.
According to Leonid Tibilov, first of all Georgia must once and for all refuse even thinking about a new aggression against South Ossetia, admitting guilt for the genocide against Ossetians and signing a legally binding document on the non-use of force.
"The second step should be the recognition of the statehood of South Ossetia. These simple steps will open the way to the dialogue. However, Georgia in every way evades the question of security guarantees and actually sabotages the Geneva international discussions. Between common sense and ideals of Gamsakhurdia and Saakashvili Georgia makes choices not in favor of common sense," concluded the President.

Development of contractual relations between Russia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia is not directed against third countries and does not create security threat in Transcaucasia. This was stated by the RF Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich.
Commenting on the statement of the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov to work on a new treaty of alliance and partnership with the Russian Federation, Lukashevich said that "these statements show the interest of the Republic of South Ossetia to develop contractual partnership with Russia."
"It is a legitimate interest of the new formed sovereign state. There's no other meaning,"- said the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
He has noted that the issue of further legal formalization of relations between Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia was actively discussed at the last round of the Geneva international discussions on security in Transcaucasia.
"The head of the Russian delegation, State Secretary - Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin has clearly explained that the development of contractual relations with these countries is in no way directed against third countries and does not create security threat; this issue should be discussed directly between Tskhinval, Sukhum and Tbilisi in the framework of discussions that we tried to do during the last round in Geneva, "- said Lukashevich.
He has stressed that the content and parameters of further contractual and legal regulation of relations between Russia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia are quite transparent.

Early next year, the State Customs Committee of South Ossetia and Federal Customs Service of Russia plan to sign an agreement on joint control of persons, vehicles and goods on the Russian-South Ossetian border, said the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of the RSO Murat Tskhovrebov at today's press conference.