Tarzan Kokoity, an expert of Media Center "IR":
The meeting of the Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin with the President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov is of great importance. The Russian state has once again confirmed its decision to recognize the statehood of South Ossetia and the intention to continue cooperation with our Republic and Abkhazia.
Speaking that the situation in the region is somewhat different, and it is possible to manage building good relations with all the neighbors, Putin, of course, has not meant South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but Georgia. A new government is being formed there, and we hope that there will be changes for the better. But this does not mean that everything will be the way we would like. New Georgian leadership inherited very heavy political burden. It must understand that the status of South Ossetia will never change. It is not in the interest of the people of South Ossetia, and not in the interests of the Russian Federation.
We will still try to improve relations with the neighboring country; we will negotiate the recognition of our independence.
Many are of the opinion that Georgia will turn to Russia politically and geopolitically. We will be happy if this happens, because Russia is our main strategic partner, and we have common interests. But, in my opinion, it will not be soon, not in the near future, and not quite as we would have liked.
