The delegation of South Ossetia headed by the first Deputy Head of the Presidential Executive Office of the Republic Konstantin Pukhaev took part in the celebrations held in Stepanakert on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of proclamation of the independence of Nagorno Karabakh.
As reported to the news agency "Res" by Konstantin Pukhaev, the delegation from South Ossetia consisted of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of the RSO for Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Relations Igor Kochiev and the Chairman of the South Ossetian Commercial Bank Vasily Shaadyan.
"President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan has invited the President of our Republic Leonid Tibilov to participate in the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of independence of Nagorno Karabakh and the head of state has formed the delegation ", - said Pukhaev.
According to him, the South Ossetian delegation in Nagorno-Karabakh was met with great cordiality.
"On arrival, we visited several companies, met with labor collectives, - said Pukhaev. - Everywhere we were met with great joy when they learned that we were from South Ossetia, people hurried to shake hands with us. "
Pukhaev has noted that the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh - Stepanakert is cozy, clean city with modern buildings, where the consequences of the war are virtually invisible.
"We had close contacts with the locals, they enjoyed our visit and were interested in how we live in the recognized state, - Pukhaev said. - We also went to Shushi - an ancient city with a huge number of monuments of architecture and culture. We visited the museum and the history of money circulation in Armenia. "
At the reception organized by the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetian members of the delegation met with the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.
"We welcomed Serzh Sargsyan, congratulated him on the holiday - Pukhaev said. - As I learned later, our minute dialogue caused some discontent in neighboring Georgia. This of course, will not stop us to get closer, to strengthen contacts with our colleagues from Karabakh. "
According to Pukhaev, at the reception he has noted that 32 Ossetians took part in the national liberation struggle of Artsakh, 7 of them were killed there; two of them were awarded the title of Hero of Artsakh posthumously.
"We have also met with the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, who said very warm words about our Republic, we were talking in a very relaxed, warm and friendly atmosphere, he conveyed best wishes to the people and the President of our country, - said Konstantin Pukaev. - Bako Sahakyan expressed his willingness to strengthen our relations, to find some mutually beneficial, mutually acceptable opportunities for cooperation. "
Pukhaev noted that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are freedom-loving and very hardworking.
"Despite the economic difficulties, people are determined to achieve recognition of their statehood", - said Pukhaev.
