Comments by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RSO

Decision of the Government of Russian Federation on exclusion of South Ossetia from the list of hazardous countries for diplomats confirms again that situation in South Ossetia is stable and secure both for citizens of the Republic and for foreigners.

A big contribution to security and stability in the region is made by Russian military contingent that is fulfilling its mission on the bases of bilateral agreements.

The contingent is a guarantor of peace despite the fact that Georgia refuses to sign a legally binding agreement on non use of force against South Ossetia.

South Ossetia was bewildered by the Statement of the MFA of Georgia and further declarations made by US Ambassador in Georgia Richard Norland and EU Commissioner for enlargement and European neighborhood policy Stepan Fule on arrangements carried out by the South Ossetian side along the state border between South Ossetia with Georgia.

Georgia and its western sponsors do not leave their hopes to implement a project ‘involvement without recognition’ in South Ossetia and Abkhazia aimed to dissolve their independence. In his speech at a conference in Batumi on relations between Georgia and European Union, Representative from the European External Action Service, Mr. Gunnar Weigand suggested extension of the agreement, that is being signed, on association and free trade between Brussels and Tbilisi, on South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The suggestion of the EU Representative was fully supported by the Georgian side.

On the resolution adopted at the 67th plenary session of the UN General Assembly

On 13 June 2013 resolution of Georgia on refugees and temporary displaced people from Abkhazia and South Ossetia was adopted. Similar resolutions were adopted by the UN General Assembly for five years in a row, all of them are of nonbinding character.

On the statement of the MFA of Georgia

On 28 May 2013 MFA of Georgia expressed its strong feelings in respect of the so called self-willed shift of the border of South Ossetia by Russian military and erection of barbed wire in the vicinity of villages Ditsi and Dvani.

On 20 May, 2013 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani stated at the briefing: “One of the main aims of all the visits that are carried out by MFA and Government of Georgia is non-recognition and we never stopped our efforts in this direction”.

On the speech made at PACE spring session by Prime-Minister of Georgia

On 23 April 2013 Prime-Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili made a speech at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasburg and announced the main directions and tasks in foreign policy of Georgia. He particularly said “it is known that 20 percent of the territory of Georgia was occupied by Russia in 2008”.

On possibilities provided to citizens of South Ossetia for studying at diplomatic institutions of higher education

On possible recurring investigation of occurrences that took place in August 2008 in Georgia

Requests to carry a recurring investigation on the facts that took place during war in August 2008 and their legal qualification are heard more often from highest Georgian tribunes. In particular, Prime-Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili stated that “the war issue is covered with mist” and called on investigation of it’s circumstances.

In respect of the speech of M. Saakashvili at winter session of PACE

The speech of the President Saakashvili was at the session of Parliamentary Assembly was of course tendentious and biased to South Ossetia and Russian Federation. We have not heard anything new from the president of Georgia. He had the same rhetorics as before, which is also followed by the Government of Georgia for many years and the culmination of which was the military aggression in August 2008.

On the report made by Swedish parliamentarian Ms. Tina Acketoft

On 21 January 2013 winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was opened. On 23 January Swedish parliamentarian Ms. Tina Aketoft made a report “Georgia and Russia: humanitarian situation in the conflict and war affected areas”.

In connection with the Decree of RSO President of Consular agency establishment

In connection with necessity to improve the grade of consular services for the citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia at the territory of Russian Federation by Decree of RSO President Leonid Tibilov was established a Consular agency of the Republic of South Ossetia in Vladikavkaz.