Interview of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia David Sanakoev with IA «RES»
- Tell us about the main achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia in the past year?
- In 2013 Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued its activities in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia, legislation and legal framework of the Republic.
The main activity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to develop a common foreign policy strategy of the Republic of South Ossetia and implementation of the foreign policy of our state, determined by the President of South Ossetia. These tasks are assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Regulation "On the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia", the April 27, 2005 Decree of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia "On the Coordinating Role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia to Conduct a Common Foreign Policy of the Republic of South Ossetia." In 2013 we celebrated the 5th anniversary of Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia. In this sense, the year 2013 is particular for South Ossetia. President Leonid Tibilov in his message to the people and the Parliament on April 30, 2013 confirmed that the main and strategic partner for South Ossetia is Russia. Therefore, the further development and deepening of friendly relations with the Russian Federation is a priority in our work.
September 9, 2013 we marked the fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation, and September 17, 2013 - the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia.
In 2013 were signed 4 agreements between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation: the Agreement on the control activities of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation and the Accounts Chamber of the Republic of South Ossetia, the Agreement between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on the procedure for appealing against decisions, actions ( inaction) of officials of the specialized customs authority, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the provision of specialized, including high-tech, health care, drug coverage, program of cooperation between the Prosecutor General of the Republic of South Ossetia and the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation in 2013-2014.
Two agreements were signed with the subjects of the Russian Federation : the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Government of Karachay-Cherkessia Republic of the Russian Federation on trade-economic, scientific- technical and cultural cooperation, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Government of the Republic of North Ossetia -Alania (Russian Federation) on socio- economic, scientific -technical and cultural cooperation.
Under elaboration are more than 20 agreements, including the Treaty on the settlement of dual citizenship, the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia on the Russian-South Ossetian state border.
Since 2010 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation allocates space for citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia in its higher educational institutions. This year, we held a contest, which resulted in five people to be recommended for admission to the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the MFA of Russia (MGIMO).
We develop bilateral relations with our sister republics - the Republic of Abkhazia, Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
In 2013 was also signed an Agreement on cooperation in the field of culture and art between the Ministries of Culture of the Republic of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the Agreement between the MES of South Ossetia and the Department of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Abkhazia on cooperation in disaster situations.
April 15, 2013 by the Decree of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov Oleg Botsiev was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia to Abkhazia. August 20, he presented his credentials to President of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab.
October 12 we marked the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
September 17, 2013 President of Transnistria Evgeny Shevchuk signed the Executive Order "For the purpose of strengthening and development of the constant interaction between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and the Republic of South Ossetia"; Yegor Kochiev was appointed a head of the official representation of Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic in the Republic of South Ossetia.
In the framework of the Geneva discussions on security and stability in Transcaucasia South Ossetia continued sustained efforts to create conditions for a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force between Georgia and Abkhazia and between Georgia and South Ossetia.
During 2013 the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry hosted foreign delegations - diplomats, officials, experts from around the world; among them was the visit of the President of PMR Yevgeny Shevchuk and Foreign Minister Nina Shtanski, the visit of the Embassy staff from Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Republic of South Ossetia, the visit of Italian delegation headed by the President of the Friendship Society Italy -South Ossetia, professor Mauro Murgia. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was held several rounds of meetings of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia and State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Gregory Karasin.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RSO takes an active part in the development of economic ties. In particular, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in October 2013, made a working visit to the Czech Republic to establish business contacts. Deputy Minister Alan Kochiev is a member of the intergovernmental commission on socio-economic cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia. He has also participated in the Sochi Investment Forum.
- What are the plans of the Foreign Ministry in 2014?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia will continue to provide favorable external conditions for the full lifting of South Ossetia, its socio-economic development, improving the quality and standard of living of our citizens, without which it is impossible the recognition of our state by the international community. To achieve these objectives will be applied all efforts to fulfill the tasks required to promote the image of the Republic of South Ossetia in the international arena. To date, besides Russia, the independence of South Ossetia was recognized by Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu, with which we have been developing inter-state relations. In March, we mourned together with all the people of Venezuela in connection with the untimely passing of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias. For us it`s important to establish friendly, equal and partner relations with all states. We are firmly committed to cooperation with all partners, having the counter readiness.
