Q: How would you comment on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s response to the question regarding possible agreements between Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia?
A: At the press conference following the results of the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in his comments on recent statements made by Georgian officials on reconciliation noted that it was “for the countries themselves, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to decide.”
Russia’s position on South Ossetia has remained constant since August 2008. Our Russian partners are doing their utmost to promote the negotiation process in the format of the Geneva Discussions and to achieve agreements between Georgia and South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including the signing of the non-use of force agreement. Minister Lavrov has in fact emphasized this point once again.
As for the possibility of building relations with neighboring Georgia in the future, South Ossetia’s position is known and has been repeatedly voiced. We proceed from the existing status of a recognized State.