Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on agreements providing for cooperation and mutual assistance in customs affairs with South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Russian President also authorized the Federal Customs Service of Russia to make necessary amendments in the course of negotiations to the draft agreements presented to the Government of the RF, if these amendments are not of a principal importance.
The South Ossetian side had been actively working on the draft Agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters between Russia and South Ossetia.
On February 10, 2010, a delegation of the Federal Customs Service of Russia headed by the Chief of the Customs Sergei Konovalenko arrived in South Ossetia to have consultations with the South Ossetian side and coordinate issues related to preparation and signing of this agreement.
During two days of discussions, the parties made their proposals on the draft agreement, and with the amendments taken into account, agreed on the paper. The Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters was expected to be signed after the approval procedures in the relevant departments of the two states are completed.
It is worth reminding that the proposal for signing the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters was considered by the Russian government in September 2010.
The draft Agreement was elaborated by the Federal Customs Service of the RF in order to implement the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia concluded September 17, 2008.
The draft Agreement is aimed at strengthening cooperation in customs affairs and the fight against customs violations, facilitating passenger and cargo traffic between the Parties, ensuring the collection of customs payments in compliance with the laws of the Parties to observe provisions regulating restricted goods transported across the border of the Parties.
