A solemn assembly entitled “I couldn’t imagine myself without Russia, without its love or without my love” dedicated to the 9th Anniversary of the Day of Recognition of the Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation was organized in Tskhinval on August 26.

Speech of Anatoliy Bibilov, the President of the Republic of South Ossetia, at the solemn assembly entitled “I couldn’t imagine myself without Russia, without its love or without my love”

My fellow citizens!

Nine years ago the Decree on the Recognition of the Republic of South Ossetia, signed by Dmitriy Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, on August 26, 2008 marked the long-awaited turn in fate of our people and ushered in a new era for South Ossetia.

Messages of information agencies on signing of the Presidential Decree №1261 and the words broadcasted on TV that “Taking into consideration the will of the people of South Ossetia, the Republic of South Ossetia is recognized as a sovereign and independent state” became the most cheerful news the people of South Ossetia had heard in many years.

The people, who have just survived the tragic days of Georgian aggression, who were at the verge of death and escaped by a miracle, perceived recognition as the greatest gift. So, probably, people rejoiced only on May 9, 1945, on the Victory Day. Joy and happiness of the people were boundless, as finally, a truly peaceful life began in the long-suffered land of Ossetia.

We remember how difficult the way to this great national celebration was. The inflexible will, the invincible firmness, the unprecedented courage and the mass heroism of our people shown in protection of the Motherland became the pledge of our Victory. South Ossetia paid a crucial price for the recognition of its right to independence, and we remember everything. We will never bury to oblivion the dead, the sufferings of martyrs and the adversities endured by our people. New generations which would inherit the helm of the ancestors were born and have grown in the land of free Alania.

Being guided by the desire to maintain regional and global security, the Russian Federation has always made active efforts to establish and maintain peace in different regions. And in South Ossetia the mediation and peacekeeping mission of Russia played the key role.

After establishment of peace in 1992, throughout a long time the Russian diplomacy have been carrying out mediation activities between South Ossetia and Georgia, expecting an opportunity to come to a mutually acceptable model of settlement. Georgia, however, consistently violating the reached agreements, has shown its full intractability. Nobody there was going to accept liability for the crimes committed against the Ossetian people. Instead, the idea of another aggression was nourished in Tbilisi. The August aggression, the battue of civilians and the treacherous attack on Russian peacekeepers became the culmination of meanness and the top of insidiousness of Georgian leaders. From captured documents it became obvious, that the aggression was prepared against Abkhazia as well.

It then became obvious that the only effective possibility for the Russian Federation to protect South Ossetia and Abkhazia from further military adventures from Georgian side in framework of the international law was recognition of their independence. Upon the trilateral consultations and appeals made by the Parliament of the Republic of South Ossetia and the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia to Russian authorities, the President of the Russian Federation signed the Decrees on recognition.

That step was recognized in South Ossetia as a clear evidence of commitment of Russia to the high principles of ethics and morality, prioritizing rights of people and nations for life, freedom and human dignity, instead of opportunistic motivations or directions from world powers, which consider themselves as owners of the universe.

Recognition of the independence and sovereignty by Russia has allowed the people of South Ossetia and fraternal Abkhazia to embrace stable peace and security, to keep lives of people and has given the historical chance to strengthen and keep the statehood. Georgia, for certain, had no objection to attack South Ossetia again. However, after the recognition of South Ossetia and signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Collaboration and the Treaty on Alliance and Integration, after creation of the Russian military base on our territory, Georgian leaders can only organize regular excursions for foreign delegations to the frontier and complain to foreign tourist of the misfortune, of the Ossetians and of Russia.

It’s obvious, that in the eyes of our enemies South Ossetia is not an easy meat any more. Since the territory of South Ossetia is a part of a joint security area with the Russian Federation the most stupid lover of foreign lands would be afraid to penetrate into our territory for fear for his skin, realizing that it is equal to attacking Russia.

Recognition of the independence and sovereignty of South Ossetia carried out by the Russian Federation in full compliance with norms and regulations of the international law became the act of justice in relation to our nation. South Ossetia obtained opportunities for extension of its international contacts, perspectives for conducting foreign economic activities and realizing the creative potential of its people.

Recognition by the Russian Federation, which brought security and confidence in future, marked the beginning of the renewal of South Ossetia. It is hard to overcome consequences of war and decades of breakdown, however the business activity has much increased today, people have started investing in business in territory of South Ossetia, individual construction is developing at high rates. These facts prove the absolute confidence of people in future, which we draw from belief in Russia and from our own desire and ability to create.

Western sponsors of Georgia are making great efforts to prevent further recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. However, with every new success achieved by the Republic in social and economic spheres, more and more states would be guided in their decisions by general rules of morality and justice, by fundamental right for self-determination, and not by instructions, given by the global policeman, who is constantly rattling the sabre and threatening each state that recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

My fellow countrymen! My brothers and sisters!

Being a recognized state is a very responsible mission. This is a responsibility to those generations of our people who defended our state and fought for our freedom. This is a liability to those young men, those defenders of motherland, who legitimately could share this holiday with us, but gave their lives for their people. And finally, this is a responsibility to the Russian Federation, as having recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, it accepted certain geopolitical risks and costs.

We have to take the full advantage of the unique historical chance, we have to develop the Republic, rebuild our statehood so that nobody has doubts regarding solvency of our country. We have to establish modern economy, bring South Ossetia to the level of development, which would allow providing all opportunities for a worthy life.

My dear compatriots!

I would like to congratulate you on today’s great holiday! I would like to congratulate you on the day of the historic victory and new hopes that opened a door to happy future of our nation!

Heil to the Republic of South Ossetia!

Heil to our alliance with Russia!

Peace, wellbeing and prosperity to our nation!