Trade turnover between Russia and South Ossetia in the first half of this year increased by 70%. This was stated on Monday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, opening talks with South Ossetian Foreign Minister Dmitry Medoev.
"I would like to note that our trade turnover is growing. For the first half of the year, by almost 70%. There are chances by the end of the year to reach indicators that will significantly exceed the dock-like ones (in 2019, the Russian-South Ossetian trade turnover amounted to 78.793 million dollars - approx. TASS)", - he said.
In addition, Lavrov pointed to the importance of relations between the two countries through the Foreign Ministry. "They make it possible to regularly determine the steps that still need to be taken in order to fulfill the agreements reached at the highest level," he added.
The Russian Foreign Minister has also noted that Russia and South Ossetia will continue cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. "On the issue of combating coronavirus infection, we note that through the efforts of our and your doctors, thanks to the supply of Russian vaccine, your situation is stabilizing, the process of infected people has begun to decline, and we will continue to work in this direction," the Russian Foreign Minister said.
Lavrovhas added that after meeting with Medoev, he will meet with his colleague from Abkhazia Inal Ardzinba. "And then we will hold a trilateral meeting, where we will look at the processes that are commonly called the Geneva discussions on Transcaucasia and on other issues related to our and your external relations," added the head of the Russian diplomatic service.
In turn, Medoev thanked the Russian party for the invitation to visit Sochi. “Indeed, we met in January of this year, it was a meaningful meeting. We then signed a plan of cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of our countries, and there is already something to talk about at the end of the year. A wonderful opportunity is given to us today to talk about our future plans, our cooperation," he added.
The meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Dmitry Medoev and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov was held on Monday in Sochi.
According to the press service of the Foreign Ministry, during the talks, the parties exchanged views on key issues of friendly bilateral relations based on the principles of integration and strategic partnership in accordance with the signed Agreements on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of September 17, 2008 and on Alliance and Integration from March 18, 2015, discussed a wide range of international and regional issues of mutual interest.
The heads of the foreign affairs agencies also summed up the results of joint activities in accordance with the Plan of Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for 2021-2022, signed in Moscow at the beginning of the year.
Special attention was paid to security issues in Transcaucasia, the importance of discussing which is largely due to the difficult situation developing in the region, in particular, regarding the buildup of US and NATO military activity in Georgia.
The South Ossetian party noted the decisive role of Russia in maintaining peace in South Ossetia and expressed confidence that the meeting would serve to further strengthen the interaction of the two states in the international arena, proceeding from the common interests of ensuring security, peace and stability, as a guarantee of preventing the outbreak of a new war against South Ossetia.
Both parties emphasized the high level of bilateral cooperation, backed by a solid legal framework, which was supplemented by a number of important agreements signed this year, confirmed the willingness to work together to find the ways to strengthen political dialogue, expand socio-economic, scientific and humanitarian ties.
Foe the South Ossetian part, the meeting was attended by Ambassador of the Republic to the Republic of Abkhazia Oleg Botsiev, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taimuraz Dzhidzhoev, Head of the Information and Analytical Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Albina Chekhoyeva and Head of the State Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Olesya Kadzhaeva.
For the Russian part - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs A.V. Grushko, Deputy Director of the 4DSNG MFA M.A. Shurgalin, Head of the Department of the DEEP MFA E.Y. Chechelyan, Senior Adviser to the 4DSNG MFA P.A. Tolmachev, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs E.A. Izotova.
At the end of the meeting, the parties exchanged memorable gifts.
