South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov has received in Tskhinval the Co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia. Opening the meeting, the President noted that the main purpose of the discussions was still the signing of a legally binding agreement on non-use of force by Georgia against South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
In Tskhinval is being held a meeting of co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia, representing the OSCE, the EU and the UN, with members of the South Ossetian delegation at the discussions led by the RSO Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement Murat Dzhioev.
International non-profit association «Renaissance Saendidzaen» (Belgium) plans to hold the Ossetian Culture Days in Europe from May 27 to June 16, 2013. As reported to IA "Res" by the project member, a well- known South Ossetian opera singer Amaga Gotti (Irina Gotoeva), the event will be held in Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Budapest.
According to her, assistance in organizing the event is provided by the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Brussels, the International Association of the Ossetian society "Renaissance" and the Russian Embassy in Belgium.
"Support in holding the Days of the Ossetian culture is also provided by a Prime Minister of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Sergey Takoev and Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia David Sanakoev" - said Gotoeva.
She has added that within the framework of the Culture Days will be arranged an open-air exhibition of the European and Ossetian artists in the city of Monmedi.
Flash-poll: How would you comment on the statements of the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II, who during the last visit to Moscow once again could not refrain from the political rhetoric, saying he was "confident in the return" of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to Georgia?
Archpriest of the Tskhinval churches, Father Jacob (Khetagurov):
Nothing new has happened to us, the rhetoric is the same. Georgia`s unwillingness to face the reality is obvious. They have been ignoring us for 15 years, pretending we do not exist.
On the other hand, this event – is the affair, the policy of the Russian and the Georgian Orthodox churches. Of course, it concerns us indirectly, we know their position, but obviously it has nothing to do with us. We have our national church, and there is no reason for panic.
January 23, 2013 at the winter session of PACE was adopted a final resolution on the report of Tina Aketoft "Georgia and Russia: the humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the conflict and war," which has arisen a number of serious issues in South Ossetia.
In the course of formation a new system of international relations that is taking place in the modern world, it is important this system to be stable. It should be based on several poles, reflecting the real weight of countries and regions in different parts of the world. PACE is a respected international platform, which must consider the interests of all countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality.
Comment of the RSO Foreign Ministry concerning the report of the Swedish parliamentarian Tina Aketoft
January 21, 2013 in Strasbourg started the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), where January 23, the Swedish MP Tina Aketoft made a report "Georgia and Russia: the humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the conflict and war."
Resolution of the PACE adopted today at the session on the report of the Swedish deputy Tina Aketoft "Georgia and Russia: the humanitarian situation in the areas affected by the conflict and military operations," in principle, does not contain anything new- the same old accents, the same misconceive of the real situation.
Ilia II's visit to Russia should be seen not only in the light of relations between Russia and Georgia, but also in light of the situation in Georgia, said IA "Res" a coordinator of the working group of the Center for Central Asia and Caucasus Institute of Oriental Studies, Alexander Skakov.
Weightlifter from South Ossetia Alexander Kasabiev will participate in the international tournament for the prizes of the Polish weightlifting club named after President of the Weightlifting Federation of Poland Simon Koletsky. As the coach of the athlete Inal Kasabiev told IA "Res", "The competition will be held at the end of January. Our athlete will perform in the weight class up to 105 kg. He is currently training for the tournament in the Polish city of Chehanovo. We expect his successful performance."
Commentary of Foreign Minister of South Ossetia David Sanakoev with regard to the speech of President Saakashvili at the PACE Winter Session.
President Saakashvili's speech at the Parliamentary Assembly was, of course, biased and prejudiced against South Ossetia and the Russian Federation. Actually, we have heard nothing new from the President of Georgia, but for the same rhetoric, which the Georgian leadership has been following for many years, and which led to the military aggression in August 2008.
