South Ossetia three years later after the independence recognition
Opinion: Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the RSO:
On August, 26 the third anniversary of the independence recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation is celebrated. It has been done much on the international scene for the last years. Priority direction of our foreign policy is cooperation strengthening with the Russian Federation.
About fifty five international agreements of various levels between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation have been concluded after the war in August 2008. About thirty ones are also under study and coordination, and we expect the majority of them to be signed in the near future. We have opened the Republic of South Ossetia embassy in the Russian Federation, which is performing its functions successfully. The Ministry is in constant interaction with the Russian Federation embassy in the Republic of South Ossetia. Republic of South Ossetia has also its embassies in the Republic of Abkhazia and the Official representation in Transdniestria Moldavian Republic. After establishing diplomatic relations with the Republic of Nicaragua and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela the General Cooperation agreements between our states have been signed, the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Republic of South Ossetia and the Ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua in the Republic of South Ossetia have also been assigned. Nariman Kozaev has been appointed to the post of the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Republic of Nicaragua and in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela by the Decree of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity. He has already started executing his duty. At present he is in a business trip in Venezuela in order to deliver the copies of credentials, and then he will leave for Nicaragua. The Minister for Foreign Affairs continues to take part in the Geneva discussions where the ways of resolving the most urgent issues which have arisen between the parties during the conflict, are considered. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is observing the activity of non-governmental organizations functioning in our country. For today from among the international organizations only the International Committee of the Red Cross is functioning in our country. The Ministry keeps in constant touch with it and assists in realization of humanitarian programs. We declare that we are ready to cooperate with any international organization which is ready to work in the Republic, as in the independent state, but not as a part of Georgia. Lately it has been made a lot in decision of consular affairs. Regular reception of citizens is carried out. The Ministry and our overseas institutions legalize the documents, issued in the Republic of South Ossetia. It should be noted that after the Agreement signed between the government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the government of the Russian Federation on mutual visa-free trips of citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia and citizens of the Russian Federation, one can cross the frontier of the Russian Federation with the South-Ossetian documents. We have put the certificate on returning to the Republic of South Ossetia into circulation. It grants the right to our citizens who have lost their documents, being abroad, on returning home where they can address to relevant bodies for restoration the lost documents. It`s necessary to expand the circle of states to establish diplomatic relations with them for strengthening the statehood of the Republic of South Ossetia on the international scene. Thereupon, one of the basic directions of the Ministry is the work on independence recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia. Without going into details, we can say that it is a hard job, considering the modern political spectrum on the international scene, but we are not at a stop. I can assure, that the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of South Ossetia has been doing its best that we would establish diplomatic relations with a number of states in the near future. We are both looking for and developing our relations, regularly organizing meetings at various levels. I`d like to add, that several visits to other states are also planned in the autumn.
