On the passing of Znaur Gassiev
Zanur Gassiev, a conspicuous statesman of the Republic of South Ossetia, passed away March 6, 2016 in his 91st year.
A grand statesman, wise politician and patriot, he was sincere when dedicated all his life to the interests of his people. Each person in South Ossetia and abroad who knew him would remember Znaur Nikolaevich as a man of marked individuality with long life experience, who had always been friendly and openhearted.
The second session of the Expert Council affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia took place on 3 March 2016. Experts from North Ossetia –Alania - Valerij Dzhidzhoev and Ruslan Bzarov - Professors, Doctors of History, and Petr Khoziev participated in the session.
Murat Dzhioev, the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement, heading South Ossetian mission, hosted a meeting with the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions representing the EU, the OSCE and the UN, who arrived to Tskhinval on March 2 in anticipation of the coming 35th round of the Discussions.
Issues related to the agenda of the round scheduled for March 22-23 were discussed at the meeting.
Competitive exam to Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia on February 24-25.
The competitions took place in accordance with the Charter on “Competitive exams for quotas to Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia”.
On the recall of Daniel Tibilov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Republic of Nicaragua, from the occupied posts.
Alan Kochiev, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia, and officers of the Ministry participated in solemn commemoration of the Day of the Defenders and laid flowers to the monument to Ossetian defenders at the Cathedral Square.
February 22, 2016, Tskhinval
Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, South Ossetia Foreign Minister, hosted a meeting with Murat Dzhioev, the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia on post-conflict settlement, David Sanakoev, the State Councellor of the President, and Inal Tasoev, Presidential Human Rights Ombudsman on February 4, 2016.
Issues related to the work of the Trilateral Coordination Mechanism on South Ossetian missing people’s case were discussed.
The next meeting of the Mechanism is scheduled for February 5 at South Ossetian-Georgian border near Ergnet village.
The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) approved the request submitted by the Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to conduct an investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity “committed in and around South Ossetia” that would cover period from July 1 to October 10, 2008 on January 27.
We in the Republic of South Ossetia are satisfied with this decision and express readiness to promote impartial and professional investigation, despite the fact that South Ossetian territory doesn’t fall within the scope of the Rome Statute.
Pertaining to the possibility of applying a “bundle principal” while signing additional agreements to the Treaty on Alliance and Integration concluded between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation.
There is an international practice when several bilateral agreements are signed at a time, however it is not common. Often they coincide that to a visit of heads of states or some important international forum. In this case one can speak about signing a set of agreements. Such a practice is not obligatory.
- Honorable Minister, the 7th Anniversary of the notorious August affairs in South Ossetia, when you were attacked by Georgian army, has been commemorated this year. How do you see these affairs from current perspective?
The European Commission released a report on Georgia’s implementation of the action plan on visa liberalization (VLAP) on December 18, 2015.
Even before the corresponding political decision on liberalization of the European visa regime for Georgia was made by the EU they started talks in Georgia about the possibility of facilitating the process of issuing biometric passports of Georgian citizenship to citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia for the purpose of unobstructed visiting the Schengen zone.
Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia, hosted a meeting with Valeriy Kalyakin, the President of the International Union “Descendants of the Victory” on December, 21.
According to Mr. Kalyakin one of the focal points of the Union’s activity is “preservation of historical memory, especially about the feat and bravery of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War. The President of the Union noted that the Ossetians not just participated in battles but left one of the most notable marks in history of the War.
