South Ossetia is one of Russia's most reliable friends and partners, with whom we have been walking together for quite a long time. This was stated by the head of Rossotrudnichestvo Yevgeny Primakov, answering a question from the IA "Res" correspondent during the online conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of public diplomacy.
"Our cooperation began long before 2008. Russia was the first to recognize the independence of South Ossetia. Despite the small population of the Republic, strong ties, including family ties, make us very close friends and allies," he said.
The head of Rossotrudnichestvo emphasized the importance of educational programs for the youth of South Ossetia.
"Many guys from South Ossetia go to study in the Russian Federation. There is a peculiarity that concerns South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It should not be forgotten that quotas for studying at the Russian universities apply to foreigners, no to Russian citizens.
Many residents of the Republics have Russian passports, and they would like to be included in this quota. However, being citizens of Russia, they must act as foreigners are supposed to do,” Primakov noted.
He has expressed hope that young people from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, having received education in Russia, will return to their homeland.
“I would like young people not to consider the possibility of studying in Russia as a way to leave their homeland. It is right when, having received knowledge, a young specialist returns and makes his country more beautiful. It is for this reason that the Russian government allocates considerable budgetary funds for quotas for foreign students,” the head of Rossotrudnichestvo has added.
