Нино Пухаева

South Ossetia and Georgia have agreed to continue the process of mutual transferring of the convicted persons. It has been declared by the RSO Deputy Presidential Envoy on post-conflict settlement Merab Chigoev after the meeting in the format of Mechanisms on Prevention and Reaction to Incidents (MPRI), which took place today at the border of South Ossetia in the Georgian village of Dvani. "During the meeting we agreed that the process of mutual transferring of the convicted persons should be continued in the future – Chigoev has underlined. - We have reason for optimism in this matter. «According to Chigoev, during the meeting the sides noted some improvement in the situation at the border of South Ossetia and Georgia.

The tenth meeting of representatives of the South Ossetian and Georgian civil society was being held on January 11-14, 2012 in the town of Bethlehem (Israel) within the framework of social dialogue "Viewpoint." This has been reported to IA "Res" by one of the participants of the meeting, the Chairman of the South Ossetian Women's Association for Democracy and Human Rights Lira Tskhovrebova. According to her, the meetings are conducted by the Faculty of Analysis and Conflict Resolution at the George Mason University since December 2008. "No any political issues are discussed at these meetings; each participant has his own position.

South Ossetian State Theatre named after Costa Khetagurov has prepared a New Year theater program for residents of the Republic. As reported to IA "Res" by the art director of the Theater Soslan Bibilov, the holiday show for the South Ossetian spectators began January 3, 2012 and will continue until the Old New Year.

An act of charity, "Reach out a helping hand" on collecting money for the citizens of the Republic who are kept in the Georgian prisons for the trumped-up charges, is coming to the end in South Ossetia. As reported to IA "Res" by Head of Youth Policy Department under the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth Policy of the RSO Emilia Gagieva, the action started in October, 2011 on the initiative of her department.

The meeting of the mechanisms of prevention and reaction to incidents (MPRI), last in 2011, was held in the Georgian village of Dvani, bordering upon South Ossetia. After the meeting the Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of President of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement Merab Chigoev reported to IA "Res", that the meeting was quite rich and productive.

Voting in South Ossetia has been held as much democratically as possible. It was declared by a member of the international organization on supervision over elections CIS EMO Stavros Vitalis at the briefing in the Central Electoral Committee Information Centre. As he said, during the monitoring of presidential election in South Ossetia group CIS EMO has found out some new details in the electoral process. «I am a member of democratic movement in Greece which represents direct democracy. But here, in South Ossetia, our group visited several polling stations and has been amazed to see, how much democratically the voting process is being held».

The agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs affairs between Russia and South Ossetia has been ratified at the meeting of the parliamentary session of South Ossetia in Tskhinval. The meeting was headed by the Acting Parliament Speaker of the RSO Zurab Kokoev. Draft agreement for consideration of the deputies was brought up by the Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of South Ossetia, Yuri Dzitstsoity. "This cooperation agreement has already been ratified by Russia,-Dzitstsoity has said. -It implies strengthening of cooperation in customs affairs between South Ossetia and Russia." The Vice-Speaker said that the agreement had been signed between the two states in Moscow on December 9, 2010. Then, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of South Ossetia on construction, industry, transport and communications, Gennady Kokoev introduced a bill on the state strategic planning in the Republic of South Ossetia. "This law establishes the basic principles, contents and procedure of the state strategic planning of socio-economic development of South Ossetia, and also defines the powers of participants of the state strategic planning process,"-Kokoev has declared.

South Ossetia and the Geneva discussions co-chairmen disagree with steps on preparation of the document on force non-use. It has been declared today by the Plenipotentiary of the President of South Ossetia on the post conflict settlement Boris Chochiev at the joint briefing with the Geneva discussions co-chairmen in Tskhinval. «During the today's meeting with the Geneva discussions co-chairmen we were offered five steps of preparation of the future force non-use draft, - Chochiev has told. - We, for our part, have agreed with them that at the next round of the Geneva discussions we will present our vision of the draft, offered by them.

The Central Election Committee of South Ossetia has announced today the final results of counting of votes both in the presidential elections of South Ossetia and the referendum on the status of the Russian language. "According to final results of the votes counting Anatoly Bibilov and Alla Dzhioeva gained a majority of votes in the first round of the presidential elections.

Restoration of the parliament building in Tskhinval, burned during the Georgian aggression in August 2008, will be completed by the next summer. It has been reported IA "Res" by Robert Nartikoev-the foreman of the North Ossetian construction company "Lea", which is reconstructing the building, "Reconstruction of this facility began in April 2011, - the foreman said. - At present, the construction is at a good pace. "Nartikoev has noted that the facade of the building will retain its former appearance.