A number of bilateral agreements between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation were concluded. What is their effect?

After the recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation on 26 August, 2008, Agreement between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation on Friendship and Cooperation was concluded. The Agreement was concluded in the Kremlin on 17 September, 2008, and in continuation and development of this large framework agreement which was ratified by the parliaments of both countries more than fifty agreements and international, intergovernmental and departmental treaties was signed. Twenty more agreements are in the stage of examination. They embrace all spheres of close cooperation between our countries. In particular, on the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia there is a contingent of Russian military forces – the 4 th military base securing the Republic of South Ossetia in compliance with the signed agreements which nave already come into effect. Besides, in accordance with concluded bilateral agreement Russian border guards are situated on the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia which together with South Ossetia border services secures the state boundary of the Republic of South Ossetia. The agreement on mutual visa-free journeys of the citizens of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation was also signed and inured; a whole number of agreements on economy, security interaction, and law-enforcement were concluded. We have also reached agreement on opening cultural and information centers of the Russian Federation in the Republic of South Ossetia and of the Republic of South Ossetia in the Russian Federation, and I repeat, more than 20 agreements are in the stage of preparation to be signed.

Which other countries is the Republic of South Ossetia in friendly relations with?

The Republic of South Ossetia as a country which has already been independent for 20 years seeks to develop good-neighborly relations and establish friendly relations with all countries , and for time being the Republic of South Ossetia is officially recognized and it has established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Abkhazia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru. We have had the Agreement on Friendship and Collaboration with Abkhazia for a long time; we have signed General Agreements on Friendship and Collaboration with Nicaragua and Venezuela. Last week the Parliament of the Republic of South Ossetia ratified the documents which are very important for our bilateral collaboration. We also develop the relations with other countries, and try to establish relations both with the countries of former Soviet Union, the countries of CIS, and Europe, Latin America, Oceania, i.e. we are ready for open collaboration with all the countries of the world.

Which areas are foregrounds in the work of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia?

First of all the main orientation of our foreign-policy activities is focused upon ensuring an adequate place for the Republic of South Ossetia in the international community, making the image of the Republic of South Ossetia as much attractive as possible and widely developing the relations with all the countries of the world. Besides, collaboration with the Russian Federation was and remains as one of the most important orientations of the Republic of South Ossetia foreign-policy. You know the Republic of South Ossetia has always been politically directed toward the Russian Federation. We have relations with the Russian Federation in all the spheres of our vital activity; the Russian Language is the official language in the Republic of South Ossetia; educational system, public health and social development, our economy – everything is linked with the Russian Federation, that is why, I repeat, one of the most important areas of our foreign policy is further expansion and intensification of our relations with the Russian Federation. At the same time it is important for us to establish friendly, equal in rights and entente cordiale with all the countries of the world. One of the important areas of the foreign policy of our country is to normalize relations with neighboring Georgia with which we were in conflict until 2008. There were several aggressions from the side of Georgia against South Ossetia, but now we are ready to normalize good-neighborly relations as far as both South Ossetia and Georgia are Caucasian countries. We are neighbors and that is why it is necessary sooner or later to have equal in rights good-neighborly relations settled up.

Your wishes to the radio listeners.

Peace for all of us. Today is an important day. Today is the 70th anniversary from the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, and I wish everybody never experience the horrors of the war. Peace and good for all of us!

Wednesday, 22.06.2011-11:46