Report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia for 2012
In 2012 Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued its activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia, the law and the legal framework of the Republic. The main directions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2012 were aimed at the development strategy of the Republic of South Ossetia, designated by President of the Republic of South Ossetia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia in 2012 was creating and strengthening a positive objective image of the Republic of South Ossetia in the world as a sovereign democratic country with all the trappings of a modern state, showing transparency and willingness to cooperate with all countries.
This year for the Foreign Ministry of South Ossetia was a special jubilee. May 28 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic celebrated the 20th anniversary of its foundation, in honor of which hosted a reception.
Priority in foreign policy is given to further development and deepening of friendly relations with Russia- our strategic partner. For the year 2012 was signed six agreements between South Ossetia and Russia.
1. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on the mutual establishment of trade offices (December 1, 2009).
2. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on trade in goods (March 2, 2012).
3. Agreement between the State Customs Committee of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Federal Customs Service (Russian Federation) on the location, quantity of officials, accommodation and the regions of activities of the specialized customs (April 16, 2012).
4. Protocol between the State Customs Committee of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Federal Customs Service (Russian Federation) to confirm the facts of customs operations and customs control of goods and vehicles (16 April 2012).
5. Agreement between the State Customs Committee of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Federal Customs Service (Russian Federation) on the order of interaction of the specialized customs authorities of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of South Ossetia concerning the law enforcement activities (September 13, 2012).
6. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on international motor traffic (October 24, 2012).
More than 20 agreements are in the development stage, including the agreement on the settlement of the issue of dual citizenship, the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on the Russian-South Ossetian frontier.
The meeting of the leaders of the two countries is the evidence that the most important line of the foreign policy of South Ossetia is the development of relations with Russia.
May 12, 2012 in Sochi was held a meeting of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin with President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov. It should be noted that the visit to Russia has become the first foreign trip of the President of South Ossetia after taking office. As well as the RSO President's official visit to Moscow October 23, 2012.
In the context of strengthening relations between South Ossetia and Russia it should be noted a working visit of the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which took place in the fourth anniversary of the August aggression, August 8, 2012.
Much work in strengthening the relationship between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation was also done by the foreign ministries.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for the fourth year has been allocating space in its higher educational institutions for the citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia. This year we held a contest, which resulted in five people to have been recommended for admission to the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
June 25, 2012 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was held a meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia David Sanakoev with State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation G. Karasin.
October 9, 2012 took place an official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia David Sanakoev to Moscow on the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia are actively involved in the development of economic relations between our countries.
June 21, 2012 the XVI International economic forum was attended by a delegation of the Republic of South Ossetia, consisting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs David Sanakoev, Acting Economic Development Minister Alexander Khabalov and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation Dmitry Medoev.
In the work of the organizing committee, established to participate in the twenty-first international investment forum "Sochi 2012", held on September 21, was involved Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alan Kochiev. At the forum the RSO presented the investment projects based on the use of new technologies.
Embassy of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Russian Federation has also promoted the attraction of investments to the economy of South Ossetia, in particular, at the end of September the Republic was visited by a delegation of the Chinese and Korean businessmen, which signed a memorandum of trade, economic, scientific, technical and industrial cooperation between the Government of South Ossetia and the Company of Korea.
The next major direction in the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the development and strengthening of relations with friendly countries - the Republic of Abkhazia, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
July 6, 2012 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia David Sanakoev arrived in Abkhazia on a working visit, during which he met with Foreign Minister Chirikba.
In 2012 was also signed an agreement between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia.
From August 31 to September 3, official delegation of the Republic of South Ossetia, led by the Chairman of the Parliament of South Ossetia Stanislav Kochiev visited the Moldovan Republic of Transnistria to take part in celebration of the 22 anniversary of the proclamation of the independence. The delegation also included Deputy Foreign Minister of South Ossetia Kazbulat Tskhovrebov and Head of the Translation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia Tadtaev.
July 17, 2012, the delegation of South Ossetia headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Alan Kochiev, was sent as the observers to the presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
It is still pressing the confrontation to the information policy of Georgia and its patrons, communicating the reality in a completely distorted way. To this end, information-analytical department of the Ministry during the current year made statements, comments, appeals to the international community, which expressed the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia. In 2012 more than 50 messages were put on the website of the RSO Ministry.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is involved in the organization and implementation of foreign delegations` visits to the Republic of South Ossetia. The Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is providing the protocol of official events and visits at the highest level, among which are:
August 15 – 17, 2012 – a visit of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Venezuela Hugo Jose Garcia Hernandez.
September 19 – 20, 2012 - a visit of President of the Republic of Nauru Sprent Jared Dabvido.
September 19 - 20 - a visit of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Somali Republic in the Russian Federation, President of the Ambassadors' Club - graduates of Russian and Soviet universities Mohamed Mohamud Handule.
September19 - 20 - the visit of the First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua to the Russian Federation Juan Ernesto Vazquez Araya.
An important step in raising the issue of rapprochement and attracting the Ossetian communities living abroad, has become a Roundtable "Iron Nykhas", established on August 8, 2012 in Tskhinval, on the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia. These discussions were attended by representatives of the Ossetian community from Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, Syria, Turkey, France, representatives of public organizations of South Ossetia, prominent representatives of the Ossetian science.
Foreign Ministry is cooperating with non-governmental organizations functioning in the country. To date the International Committee of the Red Cross is functioning in our country; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia is in constant contact with it, assisting in implementation of humanitarian programs.
Ministry and our missions abroad legalize the documents issued in the Republic of South Ossetia. Over 250 applications for acquiring the RSO citizenship have been considered this year, 150 certificates of return have been issued and were legalized more than 200 documents. December 21 the RSO President Leonid Tibilov established Consular Agency of the Republic of South Ossetia in Vladikavkaz to improve the provision of consular services to the citizens of South Ossetia in the Russian Federation. Currently the Foreign Ministry is engaged in organizational details for the full functioning of the Consular Agency. A new level has reached our relationship with Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Tuvalu. There are joint projects, despite the fact that these countries are a great distance away from South Ossetia. Negotiations are held with these countries to find points of contact in the economic field, but there are other areas, such as culture, sports, and art to be developed.
August 2, 2012 in Moscow was held a meeting of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RSO Kazbulat Tskhovrebov with Foreign Minister of Nauru Kieren Keke.
December 5, 2012 a documentary film "First Embassy", shot by prominent documentary filmmaker Vadim Tsalikov with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Russian Federation, was premiered at the Moscow House of Nationalities. Presentation of the film was attended by the distinguished guests, including the diplomats from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Russia.
Due to personnel changes in 2012 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in late December by the Decree of the President of South Ossetia was appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Daniel Tibilov.
Of course, one of the main lines of the Ministry`s policy is to work on the recognition of independence of South Ossetia by other countries; taking into account the current balance of political forces in the world, it is not the easy task. Ministry is seeking and developing contacts; it regularly organizes meetings at various levels, working with many countries from different continents for the Republic of South Ossetia to become an equal member of the international community, a member of the UN and other international organizations.
