15.11.2017 A meeting of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Anatolii Bibilov, who arrived in Moscow on an official visit upon the invitation from Russian leader, took place in Novo-Ogarevo presidential residence yesterday. According to experts, the meeting can be called a successful one.
Our edition contacted Dmitrii Medoev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia, a participant of the negotiation, and he agreed to give us a brief interview.
— What can you say about the official visit of the South Ossetian delegation to the Russian Federation? What prospects will be opened to the Republic after signing of the interdepartmental agreements?
—It was the highest level visit, and I’m talking not only about the protocol arrangements, but, first of all, about the substantive part of the meetings.
We have succeeded to settle questions, which had been waiting for the solution for many years. This was the issue of former personnel of the Ossetian peacekeeping battalion, the issue of health care of our citizens, including the possibility of using air ambulance, which had been raised by our government numerous times, but didn’t gain traction.
However, it was the personal meeting of the two leaders that became the culmination of the visit. The dialogue between the leaders of Russia and South Ossetia become an indicator of the achieved level of relations.
The signed documents have reinforced the significant legal framework of the bilateral relations, and process of its development is currently underway.
It should be noted that a number of important documents that will also be signed in the near future are under consideration by the parties.
—What are your personal impressions of the meetings?
—The warm reception and hospitality extended to our delegation indicate the high level of respect of Russian leadership to our country and people. We value this friendship very much and appreciate highly the warm relations between our leaders and states, which have already become traditional.
For clarity I would like to note the fact that the memorable gift Vladimir Putin presented Anatolii Bibilov with, was a cavalry sword of Sergei Khabalov, general-lieutenant of Ossetian origin, a participant of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Sergei Khabalov was the Commandant of Moscow and Pavlovsk Military Schools, the author of a number of textbooks and the commander of the Petrograd Military District.
This is not a mere ceremonial gift from the Russian President to a President of a friendly state. First of all, it is an indicator of the level of the bilateral relations and the respect to common centuries-long history of the people of Russia and South Ossetia.