Государственное информационное агентство "Рес"

There are about 47 Ossetian Diaspora on the territory of the Russian Federation, in the countries of far abroad - more than 27.
As reported to IA "Res" by Deputy Chairman of the Coordination Council of the International Public Movement "The Supreme Council of the Ossetians," the Chairman of the South Ossetian branch of the IPM "the Supreme Council of the Ossetians" Robert Gagloyty, "today the Ossetian diaspora is in almost all countries - said Gagloyty. - I think, the first priority today for the Ossetian Diaspora should be assistance to recognize the independence of South Ossetia, because the more states recognize South Ossetia, the better for entire Ossetian people. However, the diasporas in my view, should combine the work with preservation of the Ossetian language, development of traditions and customs of our people. "

According to Gagloyty, Ossetian diaspora is in Angola, Argentina, Morocco, Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Canada, China, Spain, the USA, Syria, Finland, Turkey, Czech Republic, Britain and others.

In France completed the "Days of Ossetian culture in Europe."
As reported to the news agency "Res" by the Chairman of the non-profit International Association «Renaissance Sandidzan» Radion Pukhaev, the activities in the framework of the program "Days of Ossetian culture in Europe" were held at a very high level.
"This is our fifth year holding of the "Days of Ossetian culture in Europe ", - said Pukhaev. - Within the framework of our program we hold round tables of scientific and creative intelligentsia of Ossetia and Europe, exhibitions, open-air workshops of our artists. "
Pukhaev has noted that the events took place in Belgium, France and Luxembourg.
"During the open-air in Montmedi the population had a chance to talk with the artists, to get acquainted with the culture and creativity of Ossetia - said Pukhaev. - We presented one of the paintings made by our artists in the open air to the leadership of the city."
Pukhaev has added that the purpose of the activities is to develop cultural and creative relationships with colleagues from other countries, to unify Ossetians in Europe, attracting them to closer participation in cultural life of Ossetia.

June 1, 2015 in Moscow will be held a meeting of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As reported to the news agency "Res" by the press Secretary of the President of South Ossetia Ghana Yanovskaya, "during the summit talks the heads of state will discuss a wide range of issues of bilateral relations and cooperation in the sphere of regional security, as well as preparation of the agreements and other documents aimed at the implementation of the Treaty of Alliance and Integration signed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on March 18, 2015 in Moscow."
It should be noted that May 2015 Leonid Tibilov took part in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Victory Day on the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In March the two leaders signed the South Ossetian-Russian agreement on cooperation and integration, which provides a common space of defense and security, free crossing of the border, the integration of the customs authorities, expansion of cooperation of the bodies of Internal Affairs, simplification of procedures for acquisition of Russian citizenship, increase of salaries and pensions, as well as providing health insurance to residents of South Ossetia.
On ratification of the agreement Tibilov informed Putin in person.

In Tskhinval took place the solemn signing of the Memorandum of cooperation between the State Committee for Information and Press of South Ossetia and the federal unitary enterprise "Information Telegraph Agency of Russia (ITAR-TASS)."
The signing ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the State Committee for Information and Press of South Ossetia Vyacheslav Gobozov and First Deputy Director General of ITAR-TASS Mikhail Kalmykov.
According to the Memorandum, the parties agreed on information cooperation, the implementation and use of modern information technologies, working together to inform the Russian and world public about South Ossetia, strengthening strategic partnership and potential of the Republic.
In addition, for the fruitful and constructive collaboration with the ITAR-TASS the Chairman of the State Committee for Information and Press of South Ossetia Vyacheslav Gobozov and Presidential press Secretary Ghana Yanovskaya were presented letters of commendation.
It should be noted that the Memorandum was signed under the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance signed between Russia and South Ossetia in 2008.

In Tskhinval took place a meeting of the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov with the delegation of the Russian news agency "TASS."
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister of South Ossetia Eric Pukhaev, the Chairman of the State Committee of Information and Press of South Ossetia Vyacheslav Gobozov.
The Head of State welcomed the guests of the Republic, expressing his gratitude for the interest shown in South Ossetia.
"I am always glad to see our friends from the news agency" TASS "- the president said. - I am very glad that you show such an interest in our country, because South Ossetia is a strategic partner to Russia, as well as Russia is our main strategic partner. I think that our meeting will contribute to further development of relations between our countries.
On Monday will take place a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of South Ossetia and the implementation of the Treaty, signed on March 18 between our countries."
Tibilov has noted that thanks to Russia South Ossetia is now a free country.

The President has stressed that today in South Ossetia is being celebrated one of the most important dates in the recent history of the Republic – the Day of adoption of the Act of Proclamation of the Independence of South Ossetia.
"Today is a festive day for us, - said the president. - Yesterday we hold main activities, including a meeting with the first convocation deputies of the South Ossetian Parliament. We recalled the history of our republic, those were really difficult times."
First Deputy General Director of TASS Mikhail Kalmykov also welcomed the head of state, congratulating him on the holiday.
"We are very pleased to be here in South Ossetia, - said Kalmykia. - This morning, we took part in the round table, which was attended by people who stood at the origins of the adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia. We had a warm conversation, people shared their memories, and we realized that even then we were close in all respects. TASS then wrote a lot about those events. I believe that our meeting today in a peaceful independent South Ossetia is the main result of all that we have done together. And today we are one of the first after the signing of a bilateral agreement between the two countries. "
According to Kalmykov, the agency plans to open an office in South Ossetia.
"We are going to open an office in South Ossetia, of course, with your help, - said Kalmykov. - We will send out news, especially the good ones because, I think, the limit of negative news for South Ossetia has been exhausted. You, in turn, in your daily work can always rely on the TASS. For us, South Ossetia is not only a point on the map, but part of our destiny. Here in the most acute moment worked our journalists, many of them were awarded. I want you to know - we are always with you. "
At the end of the meeting the sides exchanged gifts.

May 29 in the Republic of South Ossetia is celebrated the 23th anniversary of the Act of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia.

Vadim Gabaraev, the first convocation deputy of the Parliament of South Ossetia:

Ossetians have always been independent genetically. When making their first steps, when started talking about independence, the people of South Ossetia took heart. Everyone was striving for freedom.
There were also people who did not want the proclamation of the independence, dissuaded us, saying that the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia was the first step to war. But the only will of the people was independence! People believed and knew it was the only way to freedom.
It is impossible to describe the joy that reigned on the Theater Square May 29, 1992, when we announced the adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia.
It was a great joy for the entire nation. You should have seen the eyes of people, full of joy and steadfastness in their striving for freedom.
The road to freedom was long and difficult, but Ossetians are a great nation, and we have won independence.

Vadim Tskhovrebov, director of the South Ossetian enterprise of bakery products:

The Act of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia is a historical document, justice, which sooner or later would have to prevail.
The adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia will remain forever in the history of the Ossetian people.
We gained independence, though it was a long road to it. I remember well how we were struggling for independence. We must remember, first of all, those people, both the living and the dead, thanks to whom we won independence; we must honor and respect our independence.
In connection with the celebration of this wonderful day, I wish the people of South Ossetia peaceful sky, happiness, health and prosperity.

Amiran Diaconov, MP of South Ossetia:

The adoption of the Act of Independence of South Ossetia 29 May 1992 is the basic document - the foundation of the independence of our state.
I would like to congratulate the people of South Ossetia on this momentous day, in particular, the members of the first convocation, which laid the basis for the legal framework of our state, thanks to their efforts was adopted the Act of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. In this regard, I wish the current Parliament to follow the professionalism, tolerance and patriotism of those people, thanks to whom we are living in the independent state.

May 28 in the Office of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Republic of South Ossetia for post-conflict settlement M. Dzhioev was held a meeting with representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry, members of the Russian delegation at the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia A. Dvinyaninov, N. Zhukov and M. Kulakhmetov.
During the meeting was discussed the situation at the state border of South Ossetia with Georgia, including in Leningor district, progress and prospects of the work of the Geneva format of negotiations.
Both sides stressed that a speedy settlement of the problems associated with delimitation and the demarcation line would meet the interests of the local population.
It was noted paramount importance of a bilateral legally binding agreement on the non-use of force between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia to maintain lasting security in the region. This problem becomes even more relevant against the backdrop of a close military cooperation between Georgia and NATO and individual NATO members, which threatens the regional stability. In connection with the voting at a session of the UN General Assembly on the next politicized Georgian draft resolution on refugees, which is scheduled to be held in early June, the meeting participants have stressed its destructive orientation, that prevents meaningful work on humanitarian issues in Geneva.
Russian-South Ossetian consultations confirmed the close allied relations between the two countries and the desire to continue coordinating joint efforts in the international arena.

The Act of Declaration of the Independence of South Ossetia is one of the most important and significant decisions of the Supreme Council of the Republic, said the deputy of four convocations of the Parliament of South Ossetia Tarzan Kokoity in his interview with the news agency "Res".

"The decision was very important in recognizing the statehood and independence of South Ossetia, said Kokoity.
In 1990, people of South Ossetia and the Council of People's Deputies of the then South Ossetian Autonomous Region proclaimed the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic as a part of a unified Soviet Union. But as we know in late 1991, early 1992 the Soviet Union collapsed.
Kokoity has noted that South Ossetia was left alone with the external long-standing enemy.
"In this situation it was necessary to take some measures - continued Kokoity. - In January 1992, we conducted on the territory of South Ossetia a nationwide referendum on the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia ".

Kokoity has reminded that in the referendum voted 76% of the population of South Ossetia, of which 99% voted for an independent state.
"On this basis, May 29, 1992 the Supreme Council of the Republic of South Ossetia adopted the Act of Declaration of the Independence of South Ossetia - Kokoity added. - Subsequently, no any state has recognized our Republic, but we, observing the Constitution, taking into account the outcome of the referendum, have not changed our decision. "

Kokoity has stressed that the Georgian side tried hard to resolve the issues by force.
"After the adoption of the Act of Declaration of the Independence of South Ossetia, on June 1, the Georgian armed forces, the so-called National Guard invaded South Ossetia and began intensive bombardment of Tskhinval until July 14, 1992, when the Russian peacekeeping battalion entered the territory of the Republic South Ossetia,"- said Kokoity.

"There was not a single day without victims, many people were killed then, - Kokoity said.
People of South Ossetia shed blood to attain the independence and we must preserve the independence for our future generations to live in our prosperous country. "

Relatives and friends of the citizens of South Ossetia George Zasseev, Joseph Kochiev and George Valiev, serving life sentences in the Gldani prison in Gori, are concerned due to failure of the Georgian authorities’ promises about the retrial of the convicted persons.

From February 24 to March 29 George Zaseev, Joseph Kochiev and George Valiev went on hunger strike, hoping for a revision of the trumped-up cases, because of which they had been sentenced to life imprisonment. After 36 days the prison was visited by representatives of the Georgian Presidential Executive Office; they assured the hunger strikers, that their cases would be reviewed. The prisoners stopped the hunger strike two months ago, but their cases have not been reviewed.

Deputy Presidential Envoy of the RSO for post-conflict settlement Khokh Gagloyty commented the situation, noting that "South Ossetian citizens, imprisoned in Georgia, are the hostages of the Georgian authorities."
"Speaking about the fate of the South Ossetian citizens in Georgian prisons, whom the South Ossetian side believes the hostages of the Georgian authorities, we should talk about concrete personalities - said Gagloyty. - It concerns, primarily, the citizens of South Ossetia Kochiev, Valiev and Zasseev, who since July 2005 are kept in prison, sentenced to life imprisonment. It is no secret that the Georgian side, mainly referring to representatives of the so-called "power block" and the nationalist wing of the political establishment, is biased against our fellow citizens. The evidence of this fact is in their principled unwillingness to release them. "

Answering the question of the correspondent of the news agency "Res", whether the South Ossetian side raised the question of the review of the cases of the convicts sentenced to life imprisonment after the hunger strike, Gagloyty has noted that "South Ossetian delegation, constantly puts this question at all international forums, attended by the South Ossetian and Georgian sides."

"This applies to the Geneva international discussions and meetings in the framework of the IPRM - said Gagloyty. - In particular, at the last round of Geneva discussions South Ossetian delegation submitted to the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions the letter from the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov with our proposal on mutual release of prisoners and the appeal to the Co-Chairs to act as mediators in this matter. "
Gagloyty has added that this question is put, regardless of the hunger strikes of prisoners.
"Although they are always the subject to our particular anxieties and concerns, and the fate of the South Ossetian prisoners in Georgian is one of the key issues in the relations between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia, - said Gagloyty. - The position of Georgian representatives on this issue also contains the constant definitions such as the "principled position" and "red line."
Such approaches of the Georgian side may be relevant only to journals colorings, and are contrary to those "humane initiatives" which are declared by the Georgian authorities in their promotional materials. It should be clearly understood by the observing part of the international community. "

Answering the question, whether there is any hope for a positive solution to the issue of the South Ossetian citizens serving sentences in prisons of Georgia, Khokh Gagloyty assured that "there is a hope, and the Office of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of the RSO for post-conflict settlement will be working in this direction, relying on the existing capabilities."

It should be noted that in summer 2005 three citizens of South Ossetia George Zaseev, Joseph Kochiev and George Valiev had been detained in the village of Auneu by Georgian special services. The detainees were accused of distributing drugs and committing a terrorist act in the town of Gori (Georgia), and for ten years are kept in Gldani prison in Tbilisi. Within ten years, this is the fourth hunger strike in the hope that their cases will be reviewed.

Representatives of the Commission on Co-operation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation headed by the co-Chairman Alexander Totoonov, met with the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Domenty Kulumbegov, Parliament Speaker Anatoly Bibilov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Ossetia Elbrus Kargiev, representatives of the Government of the Republic.
Leonid Tibilov noted the fruitful work of the Federation Council of the Parliament of South Ossetia and appreciated highly the relations between South Ossetia and Russia.
"The basis for cooperation was laid in 2008, but in recent years we have seen a great momentum in the work of the commission on cooperation, - the president said. - In the future, this work will continue in order to strengthen relations between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia. We are waiting for the ratification of the signed agreement on cooperation and integration between the two countries and we are aimed at closer integration. In addition, the South Ossetian side has already established contacts to implement the agreement - this is a meeting of the Minister of Education and Science Natalie Gassieva with the Moscow colleagues, and elaborating of the issue of pension provision of the population, as well as the security system. "
Today, the president said, "to raise the standard of living of the population is a primary task, and the government will be working on it."
"The new agreement on cooperation and integration provides higher wages, pensions, and benefits." - said Tibilov.
Alexander Totoonov, for his part, reported on the work carried out in South Ossetia.
"We have considered a number of bills that we have elaborated with the Parliament of the Republic, in particular, once again highlighted the problem of high-tech medical care, - said Totoonov. - South Ossetia signed the Treaty of alliance and integration with Russia, in future will be issued laws that will facilitate the early implementation of the Treaty, in particular in the health sector. "
In addition, Totoonov offered the South Ossetian counterparts an internship in the Federation Council.
Anatoly Bibilov appreciated highly the cooperation and collaboration of the legislative branches of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation.
"The great work is expected to be done after the ratification of the alliance and integration Treaty- said Bibilov. - The adopted laws should be as efficient as possible. "
At the end of the event, representatives of the Commission on Co-operation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation presented gifts to Leonid Tibilov.