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South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov met with co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia.
The delegation of the Co-Chairs of the Geneva discussions has included the OSCE co-chair Angelo Gnedinger, the EU co-chairman Herbert Zalber, the OSCE spokesmen Race Ostrauskaitė, Tobiyas Privitelli, Marko Brkic, the EU officials Magdalena Grono, Emmanuel Anquetil, the UN representatives Frank Remus Hailu, Mamo, Irina Egorova.
The Head of State welcomed the guests and noted the need for activities in the framework of the Geneva discussions.
"We hope that at the forthcoming round of the Geneva discussions the participants will find a common language, and thus will promote to resolve the issues and challenges of this format, - the president said. - The main aim of the Geneva discussions is to find common ground in order to maintain the peace, to find mutual understanding and exclude mistrust between the parties. In this regard, we believe that the issue of the non-use of force should be the main issue of the Geneva discussions. And, perhaps, it is time for the Georgian side to realize that without signing the legally binding document on non-use of force any progress in the post-conflict settlement is doubtful. I hope that at the next round the parties will come to a mutual understanding, and will be developed a statement of the commitment to a peaceful solution of the principles of the basic question. "
The President has stressed that in South Ossetia appreciate the need to work in the format of the Geneva discussions.
"To date, the Geneva discussions is the only platform where South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia could find a language that would become positive in the settlement of the situation", - said the head of state.
The EU Co-Chair Herbert Zalber, in turn, thanked the President for the opportunity to meet with him and discuss a number of important issues.
"An important theme of the Geneva discussions is an agreement on the non-use of force, we are working on this issue - said Zalber. - Of course, we wish the meetings in the framework of the discussions were much more effective. We ask ourselves, how to achieve this and, perhaps, there is no the perfect answer. We can only make suggestions, and the parties represented in the Geneva discussions, can decide whether they accept them or not.
We also intend to make a proposal for a more dynamic agenda in the sense that we will not have a fixed scheme, but there will be more flexibility in the work under the authority of the co-chairs. Such a scheme would give us as, the co-chairs, to more effectively manage this process. Such changes reveal some chances. "
The OSCE co-Chair Angelo Gnedinger has noted that the co-chairs considered the letter of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov concerning the fate of the missing citizens of South Ossetia, as well as those serving sentences in Georgian prisons.
"We know that the International Committee of the Red Cross doing some work on the missing persons, we are also working on this issue - said Gnedinger. - We regularly meet with the relatives of the missing South Ossetian citizens. Today we have also met with them. During the meeting I have informed them that the fate of the three people, missing since October 2008, will be clarified by the OSCE independent expert. "

In Tskhinval the co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia have met with members of the South Ossetian delegation at the Geneva talks.
The meeting was also attended by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Kazbulat Tskhovrebov.
At the beginning of the meeting the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of South Ossetia for post-conflict settlement, the head of the South Ossetian delegation at the Geneva discussions Murat Dzhioev welcomed the guests and noted the importance of the existing international format.
"We, in South Ossetia appreciate the Geneva discussions - said Dzhioev. - We believe that this format is really effective and can ensure security and stability in our region. "
According to Dzhioev, the guarantee of safety is to prepare a document on the non-use of force in the framework of the Geneva discussions.
"This is a document that will have a strong international guarantees, it is in the interests not only of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but also all residents of the region as a whole - said Dzhioev. - At the same time, the work of the Geneva discussions is not as smooth as we would like, our Georgian partners sometimes deliberately sabotage the discussion of vital issues. Sometimes they try to impose on such issues that are not so actual as the questions of security and the non-use of force. We need to consider that humanitarian issues directly linked to the situation in the region. "
The EU co-chairman Herbert Zalber also noted the importance of the format of the Geneva discussions.
"We are glad to meet you once again in order to prepare for the next round of Geneva talks - said Zalber. - Sometimes it was a little difficult to use the existing format, but we are thinking about how to make this forum more effective. The previous round did not end quite the way we wanted. We thought about it, and we will discuss with you the proposals that we have. "
The OSCE co-Chair Angelo Gnaedinger raised the issues of the South Ossetian missing citizens, as well as those serving sentences in Georgian prisons.
"We would like to be useful for the imprisoned people, as well as the missing persons- said Gnaedinger. - With regard to the missing persons, we have a green light from Tbilisi that the OSCE should have an independent expert. And we hope we will decide how we will work further in this direction. "
Then the meeting continued behind closed doors.

June 3, 2015 the UN General Assembly once again adopted a resolution on refugees and displaced persons of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia introduced by Georgia annually.
Though the majority of UN member states have not supported the resolution and the number of its opponents increase, the Georgian authorities put it to a vote every year since 2009.
Correspondent of the news agency "Res" has addressed to the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Republic of South Ossetia for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev to comment on the resolution.
The attitude of South Ossetia to the resolution has already been reflected in the Statement .by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia June 4.
Since 2009 the Georgian authorities annually introduce the resolution to the UN General Assembly, while pursuing primarily political goal - to emphasize in the document, that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are parts of Georgia. In other words, at the level of the UN resolution the Georgian authorities and their patrons want to remind of a non-existent notorious "territorial integrity of Georgia." But it is quite far from reality - South Ossetia has never been part of the state called Georgia.
The aim of the Georgian authorities is to achieve propaganda effect, the number of countries voting "for", but not the solution, although the blind can see, how and who provides this number.
No one denies the urgency of solving the issue of refugees as a result of aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but not only Georgians. However, the issue should be solved not by declarations, but in accordance with international law and taking into account the existing realities.
It is regrettable that in the document adopted by the UN humanitarian subject is used for the benefit of the political situation. If it were not so, then the consideration of the problems of refugees in the UN or any other organization, would make sense only with the participation of the South Ossetian and Abkhaz parties, which have repeatedly expressed their willingness to bring their vision of solving the refugee problem to the participants of the General Assembly of the United Nations. However, the Georgian authorities and their Western patrons do not want real solution to the refugee problem, as well as the normalization of relations between Georgia and South Ossetia, Georgia and Abkhazia.
Stubborn unwillingness of Georgia to recognize the existing realities prevailing in the region,, to conclude a legally binding agreements with South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the non-use of force which would have firm international guarantees, is the evidence that Georgia is not aimed at a serious negotiation process to ensure security and stability in the region. Without this, all talks of the refugees are nothing more than demagoguery.
At the same time, the UN resolution, which introduces nothing concrete to the practical and positive solution to this problem, promotes only one thing- making meaningless and impossible to discuss this important humanitarian issue at the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia, attended by South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia. Since 2009, when Georgia began submitting the resolutions to the UN General Assembly, this issue is not discussed in Geneva.
So, by the efforts of Georgia and its patrons the real solution of refugee problem is transferred into the sphere of political games and demagoguery.
In my opinion, against the background of unconstructive role of the resolution it is cynical to call for activation of the Geneva process.

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.