South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov met with a delegation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, arrived in Tskhinval to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Parliament of the Republic of South Ossetia.
The delegation has included Senators Alexander Totoonov, Igor Martynov, the Chairman of the Assembly of the Council of Peoples of Russia, and is headed by the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Konstantin Kosachev.
The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of South Ossetia Domenty Kulumbegov, as well as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Construction, Transport, Communications and Natural Resources Ruslan Tedeev, the Chairman of the Parliament Committee on Budget and Taxes Zhanna Kochieva and the Chairman of the Parliament Committee on Economy, Small Business and Agriculture Inal Dzhioev.
Welcoming the guests, Leonid Tibilov has noted that thanks to the full support of the Russian Federation, South Ossetia live in peace and tranquility, celebrating the national holidays.
According to Tibilov, the main task of the Republican leadership is to preserve stable development of South Ossetia. At the same time, he said that "all the efforts in the country are aimed at the implementation of all provisions of the agreements, signed with Russia."
"It was carried out extensive work on the implementation of the Treaty of Alliance and Integration, signed with the President of Russia on April 18, 2016.
Certain problems emerged to elaborate the agreement relating to the defense ministry, but the Russian and South Ossetian working groups have elaborated very well all the issues relating to functioning of the military department, "- he said.
"The draft addendum on the defense agencies of our countries is to be improved and will undergo domestic procedure in the Russian Federation. Let's wait for the signal, and in fact we are moving towards the signing of almost all addendums under the Treaty, - said the president. - People are in anticipation of implementation of the agreement. We are already working in the direction of financial security. Everyone knows that signing the Treaty, Vladimir Putin said that one billion rubles would be allocated for its implementation. Today, the government worked out a diagram of the optimal allocation of these funds for activities stipulated by the Treaty.
"Vladimir Putin pays special attention to improving the living conditions of the people of South Ossetia. The implementation of the Agreement contributes to the increasing of salaries in the state institutions – it will reach the average wage in the North Caucasus Federal district", - he said and reminded that in 2013 in South Ossetia salaries had been increased by 50 %.
"South Ossetia will continue to follow the path, chosen by our ancestors - the path of rapprochement with Russia. I always say that South Ossetia is the south of Russia ", - he said.
"We are proud of the good friendly relations with Russia. Nobody has the right to encroach on them. We are grateful for the great support that will be continued, based on the agreements ", - the President said.
"We fully support the policy of the Russian state. We are pleased to see the progress of Russia both in the foreign and domestic policy."
He has added that at this stage, all forces in the country will be directed towards the development of the economy.
For his part, Konstantin Kosachev congratulated the leadership of the Republic on the occasion and conveyed warm greetings from the Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Matvienko.
"We are keeping under our parliamentary control the preparation of the addendumsunder the Treaty of Alliance and Integration. We will continue to do everything possible for the legal base development ", - he said.
At the same time, Kosachev has noted the significant positive changes in the country.
"We are happy to see your new museum. This is not just a museum, but a factor of strengthening of the dignity of the people, a factor of identity and restoration of the ties of times. We are pleased that we managed to fully preserve what could be destroyed in different conditions. We remember well the policy carried out by Georgia towards South Ossetia for the last decades. "
This situation, according to him, had a systemic character, and began with a vicious policy of the worst forms of manifestation of nationalism in the Soviet period.
"Just this fact did not make it possible to preserve the territorial integrity of Georgia. The same situation is in Ukraine, where the power was also seized by nationalists ", - he stressed.
Kosachev said that the Federation Council was very closely monitoring the economic development of South Ossetia.
"Russia will never decline the responsibility for the economic program to be fully implemented. In South Ossetia must be developed its own production, industry, - he stressed. - There are vast possibilities for cultural educational, historical, medical tourism. There are excellent conditions for the development of agriculture. South Ossetia must become a powerful developed country in socio-economic terms. We are on the right track. Russia welcomes the successes that you personally and your colleagues have achieved.
Tibilov thanked the Russian guest for the warm words and noted that the parliamentary ties between the two countries were also developing.
"I know what a great work you have are carried out. We always feel the support and we are grateful for your assistance, "- said the head of state and conveyed sincere greetings to the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.
At the end of the meeting, Leonid Tibilov presented state awards to the guests. "Order of Honor" was awarded to the Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Konstantin Kosachev and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Alexander Totoonov.
Medals "In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Republic of South Ossetia" were awarded to a member of the Committee on Budget and Financial Markets Oleg Kazakovtsev, a member of the Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Igor Martynov, the Chairman of the Assembly of the Council of Peoples of Russia Svetlana Smirnova
