A meeting of the presidents of South Ossetia and Russia Anatoly Bibilov and Vladimir Putin took place in Moscow. South Ossetian experts shared their opinion and expectations from the talks between the leaders of the two countries with IA Res.
Head of the Information and Analytical Directorate of the Presidential Executive Office of South Ossetia, Yuri Vazagov:
The next summit was a confirmation of the relevance of the development of Russian-South Ossetian relations, both for Tskhinval and for Moscow. Despite the busy schedule and a busy agenda, directly related to a whole series of acute problems of a global nature, Russian President Vladimir Putin spared time to discuss further prospects for cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia.
His words that relations between the two countries are developing in ascending order are a positive assessment of the current format of bilateral interaction, which has the character of an alliance and is aimed at further deepening integration processes.
The established tradition of regular summits allows to adjust the current processes and maintain the necessary dynamics.
The aforesaid applies to the current negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Anatoly Bibilov, which were aimed at resolving a number of urgent issues that are sensitive to the population of South Ossetia.
Their overcoming will undoubtedly remove obstacles to building up trade and economic ties between the RSO and the Russian Federation and reviving business activity in the Republic. The results of the negotiations will have a positive impact on the pace of implementation of a number of infrastructure projects required by South Ossetia.
It should also be noted that the demonstration of support from the strategic partner and the closest ally is extremely important for our Republic, including in the aspect of the situation that is developing in the region.
First of all, it is about a new phase of information and power activity in the South Ossetian direction by Georgia, which began in the summer of last year.
Given that the actions of the Georgian authorities are actively supported by Western countries that have connected their financial, informational and diplomatic resources, increased attention should be paid to building up Russian-South Ossetian cooperation in sensitive areas.
Otherwise, any temporary difficulties become a convenient reason for launching the anti-Russian and anti-Ossetian campaign by Georgia and Western countries. Against this background, Russia's assistance will allow South Ossetia to successfully neutralize the emerging threats.
South Ossetian political scientist, associate professor of the Department of Political Science and Sociology of the South Ossetian State University Soslan Pliev:
Russian President Vladimir Putin once again showed the entire world community that South Ossetia remains in the sphere of the political interests of the Russian Federation and there can be no talk of any attempts to reintegrate it into Georgia. The head of the Russian state met on equal terms with the President of South Ossetia, which already says a lot. After all, as we know, many leaders of foreign countries stand in line for an appointment with President Putin, and cannot receive an audience.
Of particular interest is the fact that the meeting took place after the dismissal of all "curators" from the Russian side.
And I think that this issue will be the main topic of backstage negotiations. Of course, I would like to believe that after the negotiations with Vladimir Putin the South Ossetian side will once and for all solve the issues of crossing the border with Russia, all issues with trade between the countries, the issue of importing vehicles, protecting the border with Georgia, etc. After all, it is precisely these issues that complicate the life of the local population of South Ossetia.
Today, relations between Russia and South Ossetia are developing as planned, but some problems periodically arise. Unfortunately, there is a tendency in South Ossetia that the people who are responsible for resolving these issues do not want to discuss the problems that are acute for the population, which causes discontent.
Russia remains the main strategic partner of South Ossetia and therefore the ministries and departments of South Ossetia need to interact more closely with the ministries and departments of the Russian Federation.
And this activity should be aimed not just at implementing Investment programs, but at promoting the state and national interests of Russia and South Ossetia. After all, there is no limit to perfection, and relations between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation must be constantly developed within the framework of the existing agreements, and if they become obsolete or ineffective, sign new ones.
Inal Pliev, an expert:
The meeting between the presidents of the Republic of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov and the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin once again demonstrated the Kremlin's unflagging interest in the processes and phenomena taking place in South Ossetia, in the difficulties of its development as a sovereign state, protected by Russia and its comprehensive assistance and contribution.
Of course, Moscow could not fail to pay attention to a number of important issues that are of great importance for South Ossetia and that have been addressed in the order of priority at the present stage. It is particularly gratifying in this regard that Mr Putin also drew attention to the progress in increasing trade between the two countries and, especially, to the successful implementation of the Investment program.
The discussion of integration issues announced by the press service of the President of the Russian Federation also shows that purposeful work continues to implement the will of our people to integrate with the Russian Federation. In addition to the meeting with Vladimir Putin, Anatoly Bibilov will meet with the Presidential Executive Office of Russia and the Russian government.
In general, the attitude shown by the presidents of the two fraternal States during the Protocol part of the meeting indicates a mutual determination to take further active steps towards increasing cooperation, which gives hope for further improvement of the living standards and social development of South Ossetia.
