Archive - 2016

The issues and incidents occurring directly on the state border between the Republic of South Ossetia and Georgia and on the adjacent territory were discussed at today's meeting held in the village of Ergneti within the framework of Mechanisms on prevention and reaction to incidents (IPRM), - told reporters after the meeting the head of the South Ossetian delegation David Sanakoev.

"For the last month for violating the state border was detained only one person - said Sanakoev.- We have stated that the situation on the border is stable."

According to Sanakoev, during the meeting were also discussed issues related to delimitation and demarcation of the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia.

"We have raised the question on the necessity of delimitation and demarcation of the border between South Ossetia and Georgia, as many other issues related to the citizens living on the territory adjacent to the state border, depend on this issue ", - Sanakoev said.

He has noted that the parties again discussed the question of the necessity of timely and accurate informing both sides on the hot line about the incidents.

"We have also discussed a number of private issues which have reached a certain understanding," - said Sanakoev.

Referring to the detention of a citizen of Georgia Giorgi Giunashvili for illegal crossing of the state border and on suspicion of subversive and terrorist activities, Sanakoev said that Giunashvili was in a detention center.

"He will be detained for 2 months - said Sanakoev.- His state of health and maintenance is satisfactory. The case will be heard in court. "

Sanakoev has also added that the South Ossetian side has not any information about the missing citizen of Georgia Nikoloz Sagerashvili.

"We have designated the time and place where presumably disappeared this citizen, we rechecked all the information and cleared up that there was not such citizen on this territory ", -said Sanakoev.

The next meeting of the IPRM is scheduled for August31.

About their impressions of South Ossetia as well as the prospects of cooperation with Italy told during the conference at the Multimedia press center of South Ossetia representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia in Italy Mauro Murgia and film critic Federico Cicerone, who arrived in Tskhinval as part of the Days of Italian cinema.
"We are actively cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia, and we hope that this work will lead to an absolute success - Murgia said. - Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia we have opened a representative office of the Republic in Italy, in Rome. "
Murgia has noted that this is not his first visit to South Ossetia.
"Earlier, we held an exhibition of the Italian photographer who took the photos in South Ossetia - said Murgia. - This photo exhibition has already been demonstrated in five Italian cities.
Our task is to let more people in Italy knew about South Ossetia. "
According to Murgia, in the future there will be the possibility of student exchange between Italia and South Ossetia.
"Between the city of Tskhinval and Italian cities was signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation, - said Murgia. - Here has arrived the delegation of the University of Palermo and currently at the stage of signing is the protocol on cooperation between the universities. This signing of the treaty is of political significance, but in fact it brings the possibility of student exchange. "
Murgia has added that there is a real opportunity to send musicians to Italy for a two-month training courses.

Within the framework of the visit of the delegation of Nicaragua to South Ossetia Acting Defense Minister of the RSO, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Gasseev met with the military attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua in the Russian Federation Paul Osman Corea Aguilera.
As IA "Res" has been informed at the press service of the Defense Ministry of South Ossetia, during the meeting was held a familiarization conversation.
It should be reminded that the Republic of Nicaragua recognized the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia in September 2008.

South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov hosted the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nicaragua in the Republic of South Ossetia Juan Ernesto Vasquez.
Tibilov welcomed the Ambassador and congratulated him, the people and the leadership of Nicaragua on the upcoming national holiday - the day of the Sandinista revolution.
"We are grateful to your country for the recognition of our Republic and the ties between us should be strengthened. The task of today's leadership is to fill with new content the agreements signed between our countries, to seek for the ways of rapprochement of our countries and our peoples. "
Tibilov reminded the Ambassador about the visit of the South Ossetian State Group "Simd" to Nicaragua in 2013.
"I remember when our state dance group traveled to Nicaragua, and how your people warmly welcomed our artists, - the President said. That was a major step in matters of rapprochement of our peoples. This, of course, can be considered as a certain breakthrough in the field of culture, with regard to other areas we must also find common points of contact".
Juan Ernesto Vasquez, in turn, conveyed the greetings to Leonid Tibilov from the Nicaraguan leadership, inviting him to visit the Latin American Republic after the upcoming presidential elections in September.
"Nicaragua will always support South Ossetia, - the Ambassador said. - You can rely on the full solidarity and support of our government and the people. I am honored to be here. This is my fourth visiting your country, and each time I see the development of South Ossetia. There is still a lot to be done, but I see that you are on the right path that will lead to the welfare of your people. "

The question of accession of South Ossetia today is not on the foreign policy agenda of Russia. This was stated in an interview with TASS by Russian Ambassador to South Ossetia Elbrus Kargiev.
According to him, the referendum, which may be held by the decision of the Republican authorities - "is absolutely domestic affair." "Therefore, we, of course, refrain from comments and appraisals," - said the ambassador.
The question of the real accession of South Ossetia to Russia "is is a two-way process." "This question is not today on the agenda of our foreign policy, - said Kargiev. Our position is that we recognized South Ossetia as an independent sovereign state in 2008".
Earlier it has been reported that in 2017 in South Ossetia may be held a referendum on the accession of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation. The question of changing the constitution of South Ossetia may be put to the vote, which will allow in the future to appeal to the leadership of Russia with a request for accession.
Elbrus Kargiev has stressed that the signing of additional agreements to the Treaty of Alliance and Integration between South Ossetia and Russia can be expected in the coming weeks.
According to him, recently in Tskhinval representatives of the relevant Russian and South Ossetian authorities have discussed this question.
"As we have been assured by representatives of the partner organizations of the two countries, we are no longer talking about months, but weeks, - he said -. Therefore, it is necessary to wait for the signing in the near future."
According to Kargiev, it is expected that there will be prescribed that certain South Ossetian servicemen will be taken into service, particularly in the 4 th military base stationed in the Republic. Part of the South Ossetian servicemen will remain at the Defense Ministry of the Republic and will form the basis of the South Ossetian army, which will also be preserved.
According to the diplomat, the issues related to the format of service of the South Ossetian servicemen will be described in detail in the relevant agreement.
"So today it is difficult to speak on the specific parameters - he said -. When it is signed, then it will be easier to comment on."
At the same time, the ambassador has noted that a small group of South Ossetian servicemen has already been presented at the 4th military base of the Russian Federation.
"I can say that at the fourth military base was formed a special unit of the residents of South Ossetia, which have Russian citizenship and the percentage of such residents is high, - said Kargiev. A supplementary agreement provides for that the interconnection between the two law enforcement agencies will be arranged on a new basis, despite the fact that the Defense Ministry of South Ossetia will be functioning. "
March 18, 2015 the presidents of Russia and South Ossetia signed the Treaty of Alliance and the Integration for 25 years with the possibility of extension. The document provides for the formation of the defense and security common space, free crossing of the border and other aspects of integration. The Treaty is the basis for the gradual establishment of closer cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia in socio- economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as in matters of foreign policy, defense and security, while maintaining the state sovereignty of the Republic.
The population of South Ossetia is grateful to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for its work on mine clearing.
The Ambassador has reminded that the current program is designed for two and a half months. The parties have chosen the area, where there were the most active hostilities.
"The problem is that undermining in those difficult, troubled years was haphazard, unplanned, and this fact impedes the work of our specialists, who arrived in South Ossetia", - the diplomat said.
The Ambassador pointed out that it "is not a comprehensive program - to demine the whole territory. There are not simply efforts or resources and, most importantly, there is no understanding how to solve the problem technically." "But we will demine the most dense areas and thereby we will significantly improve the situation", - added Kargiev.
The specialists of Russian EMERCOM have started demining the territory of South Ossetia on June 7.

12 July at 16: 00 with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of South Ossetia Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RSO and the Embassy of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Russian Federation in the foyer of the State concert hall "Chermen" will be held the opening ceremony of photo exhibition "In search of Farn: South Ossetia, Peru, Nicaragua, Venezuela".

In the framework of the exhibition will be presented the works that demonstrate the natural beauty of the protected areas of South Ossetia, Peru, Nicaragua and Venezuela, the diversity of civilizations of South American and Eurasian continents, majesty and unity of the spiritual world.

At the session of the Parliament of South Ossetia were adopted amendments to the two constitutional laws: the Constitutional Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the right to participate in the referendum of citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia" and the Constitutional Law "On elections of President of the Republic of South Ossetia."
The amendments concerned in particular article 28 of the law on presidential elections. It was decided to increase the number of collected signatures. That is, in order to be registered as a presidential candidate the applicant must collect three and a half thousand signatures. Previously, the figure was 1,000 signatures. In this case at least 150 signatures the applicant must collect in each district administrative-territorial structure.
It was also decided that the CEC proceeds to semi-professional basis. That is, three CEC members - the chairman, his deputy and the secretary - will work on a permanent basis and equated with civil servants.
It was also discussed the question of residency requirement. It was decided that a citizen is considered to be permanently resident in the territory of South Ossetia in the event that he was outside without a good reason not more than 93 days during the year. Valid reasons are considered vacation and business trip, the disease and study, if to a business trip, for treatment, or study a person was sent by state authorities.
In addition, it was decided that the Linguistic Commission of the Republic of South Ossetia will determine the level of proficiency in the official languages of the citizen of South Ossetia, running for president,.
It is assumed that the linguistic commission will be formed under the South Ossetian Research Institute.
It was also introduced other amendments.

The President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov in the framework of the working visit to Moscow met with the head of the Federal security service of the Russian Federation, army General Alexander Bortnikov, reported to IA "RES" the press Secretary of the President Ghana Yanovskaya.
"During the meeting they discussed issues of cooperation, security of States. In particular, the implementation of the Treaty of Alliance and Integration, signed March, 18, 2015, security and border control," - said Yanovskaya

The President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov in the framework of the working visit to Moscow held a meeting with the co-chair of the Intergovernmental Commission for socio-economic cooperation between Russia and the Republic of South Ossetia, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin and the Minister for North Caucasus Affairs Lev Kuznetsov.
According to the press Secretary of the President of South Ossetia Ghana Yanovskaya,
At the meeting were discussed issues of further cooperation and economic support of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Ossetia.
"In addition to the main questions of the agenda of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, which is taking place these days in Moscow, during the meeting of the President and the Russian colleagues were discussed issues, which had been raised at the meetings with the top leadership of Russia. In particular, the issues of lending to small and medium-sized business in the Republic of South Ossetia", - concluded Yanovskaya.

Matters related to placing information marks and engineering structures at the state border between South Ossetia and Georgia were discussed at today's meeting, held in the village of Ergneti in the framework of the Mechanisms for preventing and responding to incidents (IPRM), - told reporters after the meeting the head of the South Ossetian delegation Davit Sanakoev.
"Today we again said that the work to set up information signs and engineering structures on the border is carried out unilaterally - Sanakoev said. - But we hope to find an understanding on this issue with representatives of the Georgian authorities and will be set up the Georgian-Ossetian joint commission in order to carry out delimitation and demarcation of the state border. This question will remove many problems faced by the people living on both sides of the state border."
Sanakoev has noted that the South Ossetian side now has to replace information signs on the state border.
"In some places we replace the information signs, because the citizens of Georgia spoil them, sometimes they shoot or try to erase the inscription, splash them with paint, and we have to replace them," - said the head of the South Ossetian delegation.
He has also said that since the previous meeting for violation of the state border 37 people were detained, 25 of whom were citizens of Georgia.
"The issue of violation of the state border was one of the main on the agenda of today's meeting, - Sanakoev said. - The question was connected not only with the illegal crossing of the state border by citizens living in border areas, but also presumably with the power structures of Georgia and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia. At the same time, each party said that the situation at the border must remain calm, and will be taken the necessary actions to prevent its aggravation."
The next IPRM meeting will be held July 19th.