Recently it`s being heard the statements about a hypothetical Russian betrayal of one of its closest allies - South Ossetia. Some experts persuade the population that Moscow could agree with the new authorities of Tbilisi behind Tskhinval to withdraw its recognition of the South Ossetian statehood in exchange for the extension of the current cooperation with Georgia. Meanwhile, life has clearly demonstrated that these statements have nothing to do with reality.
However, the key factor pointing to the impossibility of such a scenario is the high level of cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia. No exception was last autumn in the development of close ties between Moscow and Tskhinval. The parties were cooperating actively in the political, military, transportation, energy, social and law enforcement areas. Despite some difficulties, the past three months have clearly shown a positive trend.
The largest political event in the relations between Russia and South Ossetia was the visit of the South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov to Moscow in late October. During the visit Leonid Tibilov met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The key issues of the talks were bilateral relations and security in the Caucasus. Following the meeting, the President of South Ossetia said that the meeting had clearly demonstrated Russia's interest in the development of South Ossetia. In turn, the Russian president said that his country was still intending to provide the necessary support to the country in strengthening its statehood. The important outcome of the meeting was an agreement to increase salaries of social workers in South Ossetia since 2013 by 40 percent at the expense of the Russian budget and maintaining the current size of the army of the RSO to mid 2014.
Within the framework of bilateral political contacts Russia continues to contribute to the worldwide recognition of the independence of South Ossetia. So, October 30 in Minsk Lavrov met with the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey; the latter declared that his country would review its position on recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Multi-level military cooperation has been developing actively between Moscow and Tskhinval. On 21 October the Ministry of Defense of South Ossetia announced additional recruitment to the Ossetian battalion under the fourth Russian military base. The level of social security of the battalion will be the same as in other subdivisions of the Russian Armed Forces. The Ossetian battalion was established in February, 2012; an oath ceremony of the first company of the battalion took place in April. November, 16-24 12 the cadets from South Ossetia took part in the Xth All-Russian Assembly of pupils of military schools, held in Moscow. During the event, the South Ossetian cadets were able to show themselves worthy in various military and sporting competitions, quizzes and shows.
An important step in the development of transport and economic cooperation was the signing of the cooperation agreement on October 24 by the Minister of Transport of Russia Maxim Sokolov and Deputy Prime Minister of South Ossetia Guram Melkoev. According to the high-ranking officials, the document will create a good foundation for the growth of the volume of freight and passenger traffic; it will greatly simplify the procedure of registration of goods and entry into the territory of the Russian Federation. It should be noted that in 2011 the bilateral trade reached more than $ 65 million, 44 percentmore than the previous year.
Intensive cooperation in the energy sphere is also in progress. So, on November 23, has been held a meeting of Leonid Tibilov with a delegation of "Gazprom", led by Director of the capital construction department of LLC "MRK Engineering" Alexander Barth. The sides discussed various aspects of the gas pipeline "Dzuarikau - Tskhinval", issues of gasification of individual regions of South Ossetia. During the visit has taken place a ceremony of awarding the Order of Friendship to Alexander Barth and Head of Strategic Planning of "Gazprom oil" Sergey Vakulenko. A chief engineer of the pipeline Nikolai Stupin was awarded the title of the "Honored Builder of South Ossetia". It should be noted that "Gazprom" subsidizes about 200 million rubles for the maintenance of the highest mountain gas pipeline in the world "Dzuarikau -Tskhinval" the highest point of which is located at the altitude of 3148 meters.
Moscow and Tskhinval continue to cooperate actively in the issue of social assistance. September 23-25 South Ossetia hosted the Russian delegation led by Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Rashid Nurgaliyev. During the visit the delegation reviewed the results of the implementation of the Investment Program to promote socio-economic development of the Republic of South Ossetia in 2012-2013. Rashid Nurgaliyev and Leonid Tibilov visited the facilities being under construction in various parts of the country. November, 28 in Moscow was held a meeting of the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission. During the event were discussed the Investment Program to promote socio-economic development of the Republic of South Ossetia in 2012-2013 and the course of development of a similar program to 2017.
We regret to note that the help sent to South Ossetia has not always the desired effect. As stated in the second half of November, 2012 by the Attorney General of South Ossetia Merab Chigoev, more than 20 criminal cases had been brought, following the results of the audit of the Russian financial aid. Bad news was announced in October on the results of the Special Commission on the distribution of housing in the Tskhinval micro-district "Moscow". As it turned out, most of the people, living in it, moved in there illegally. The micro-district was being built by the decision and at the expense of the Government of Moscow from 2008 to 2010.
Obviously, knowing the existing problem, Russia and South Ossetia are cementing links in the law enforcement sphere. So, November, 9-10, in Moscow the Minister of Internal Affairs of South Ossetia Akhsar Lavoev met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokoltsev. The sides discussed issues of the Russian-South Ossetian cooperation between their ministries. The main outcome of the meeting was the agreement, implying deepening the existing relationship, as well as an agreement on training of the traffic police of South Ossetia. Important event in the contacts between the Interior Ministries has become the State Duma ratification of the agreement on pensions to employees of the Interior Ministry adopted on October 19. Under the agreement, Russia will ensure pension provision for the former police officers of South Ossetia residing in the RF territory. It is assumed that in 2013, for this purpose from the Russian budget will be allocated about 50 million rubles.
Bilateral cooperation in education and science field has also been expanding. According to the press service of the Russian president, announced in anticipation of the visit of the leader of South Ossetia to Moscow, this school year in South Ossetia are planned 172 scholarships to study in the Russian universities. Last year the figure was 116. South Ossetian students are studying at the educational institutions of the Defense Ministry and the Emergencies Ministry at no cost.
It should be noted that South Ossetian teachers are actively involved in various activities in the Russian Federation and enjoy high reputation among our Russian colleagues. September 17, the Moscow City Hall hosted a ceremony awarding the winners of the South Ossetian XII International Pushkin Contest for Teachers of the CIS countries, Bulgaria, Germany and Israel. Out of the 250 works submitted to the competition by South Ossetian teachers, 50 have become the winners. From October 29 to November 6 in the settlement of Lazarevskoye, Krasnodar region, employees of the South Ossetian Institute for Advanced Training in Education took part in the Russian Interregional Workshop of educators. During the sessions the participants had an opportunity to share their ideas, educational experience.
The development of cooperation in public health system is also intensive. As of early November, three doctors of the Republican somatic hospital and two of the Tskhinval clinics - a urologist, neurologist, internist, an ultrasound specialist and laboratory doctors in clinical biochemistry - were trained at the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, the North Ossetian Medical Academy and the Kuban State Medical Academy. In late October - early November, specialists of the South Ossetian Ministry of Health have been trained in Stavropol. Among them - head of the legal department, as well as the leading specialists of the department of social benefits and demographics. In November, the Moscow doctors, members of the interdepartmental delegation from the Russian Federation, held in the Republican hospital classes to use the system of artificial ventilation, which had previously been presented to the hospital by the Moscow clinic "Vidien."
Last autumn were actively expanded contacts in the cultural sphere. Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Tskhinval was the venue of events dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino (7 September), and the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad (19 November), as well as poetry readings, timed to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the great Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva. The event was attended by representatives of the Russian Embassy in the Republic of South Ossetia, Mission of the Russian Cooperation, teachers and students of the South Ossetian State University, schoolchildren of Tskhinval.
In the course of the II International Cultural Forum, held September 27-28 in Ulyanovsk, the State Song and Dance Ensemble of the RSO "Simd" held a joint concert with the Russian folk dance ensemble "Volga". November 1-7, in the Russian Centre of Science and Culture was arranged an exhibition of artists from Orel region entitled "From Russia with Love."
The South Ossetian athletes, who took part in various events in Russia, have shown their worth. Azamat Pliev and Atsamaz Dzigoev took second place at the boxing tournament "Youth of Russia", held in Stavropol in September - October. At the All-Russian Youth Games, held in Anapa in September, 2012, Christina Zhuravleva took the third place in Kyokushinkai karate competition. South Ossetian professional boxer Aslanbek Kozaev, the owner of the WBC title champion of the CIS and the Slavic countries and the owner of the title "WBC Baltic" Murat Gassiev performed successfully in the tournament "Knockout to Drugs" held in Chelyabinsk in late November.
Relations between the Republic of South Ossetia and some Russian regions have also been developing. September, 20 a delegation of the Republic of Chechnya, headed by Deputy Head of the Parliament Musa Khamzatov, has arrived in Tskhinval on the occasion of celebrating the Day of Republic. During the talks with the delegation Leonid Tibilov expressed gratitude for the assistance provided to the Republic in the rehabilitation work by the Chechen builders. September, 27 Leonid Tibilov awarded the Order of Friendship to the deputy of regional Assembly of the Arkhangelsk region Alexei Peunkov for contribution in strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples, the help provided in the restoration of South Ossetia.
Meanwhile, particularly strong remain ties between Tskhinval and Vladikavkaz. On September, 21during the XI International Investment Forum "Sochi-2012" Leonid Tibilov met with the head of North Ossetia Taimuraz Mamsurov. The key issues of the talks were related to the development of bilateral relations in the economic sphere.
Against this background, the South Ossetian authorities are still not leaving thoughts about the state unity of the Ossetian people. Thus, during his visit to Moscow in the interview to "Russia Today" Leonid Tibilov has expressed hope that despite the current "artificial division" into the south and the north, the Ossetian people in the future will be reunited with Russia.
