The RSO President Eduard Kokoity received the delegation of PACE headed by Chairperson of Migration and refugee Commission Corien Jonker paing an introductory visit to South Ossetia. In his welcome speech, Eduar Kokoity stressed that "South Ossetia remains and open state and is ready to build up normal, transparent relations with the rest of the world and first of all with Russia and Europe."
The Georgian side is still not providing in full natural gas for the capital city of South Ossetia, reports the Director General of ENERGETIKA company Alan Gabaraev. According to him, the pressure in the main pipeline is 0,5 atmospheres, which allows providing only 20 % of city consumption. "This amount is not enough for full consumption. Event the pert of the city which has been reconnected to gas, cannot use gas for heating, even cooking is a problem.
The Georgian side is used to politicizing humanitarian issues, namely the gas supply for South Ossetia, while it is presenting the situation to the international community as a technical problem”, stated the post Conflict Settlement minister Boris Chochiev commenting on problems related to gas supply through the territory of Georgia.
Representatives of EU Independent Fact-Finding Mission are paying a visit to South Ossetia. The delegation is headed by HoM Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini. The delegation was received by Post-Conflict Settlement Plenipotentiary Boris Chochiev. Foreign Minister Murat Djioev and Deputy MFA Alan Pliev also participated in the meeting. "We know that your mission was created especially to carry out a probe into august events. This is our first meeting and we are interested in cooperation with you so that you would be able to find true causes of the aggression by Georgian against South Ossetia and objectively reflect them in your report.
A session of Humanitarian commission was held in Tskhinval. The Commission has been established to the Ministry of Health and Social Development to provide assistance to population affected by the Georgian aggression in August 2008. The Health Minister tourched upon the issue of distribution of humanitarian assistance delivered to SO. "We have no problems with distribution of humanitarian assistance.
The Law Enforcement Bodies of RSO conducting investigation of illegal border crossing by Georgian citizens Demuri Chighladze and Divid Kapanadze allowed the detainees to meet with journalists. During their meeting with media representatives, Demuri Chighladze, detained 27 February, told journalists that it was true he participated in armed activities in August 2008, though not directly involved in fighting, but transported wounded soldiers to Gori Hospital.
Georgian authorities did not stop organizing provocations against South Ossetia, and international monitors, who in accordance with Medvedev-Sarkozy plan should ensure security of South Ossetia are ineffectively implementing their duties", said RSO Foreign Minister Murat Djioev commenting on the Georgian side"s statements about the detention of Georgian citizens. According to him, "on 27 February, two Georgian citizens, who illegally crossed the border, were detained on the territory of South Ossetia.
We understand that it is not to the advantage of both Georgia and world community when South Ossetia informs everyone about the situation which we currently face owing to Georgian aggression, stated Post-conflict plenipotentiary Boris Chochiev commenting on 17-18 February round of Geneva discussions. According to Chochiev, the discussions were mainly in the working group on security issues: "At the previous meetings, we have elaborated a draft proposal on mechanisms for prevention of and reaction to possible incidents.
Georgian citizens, native Avnevi residents David Kapandze, 1969, and Demuri Chighladze, 1973, were detained in the village of Tsnelis, Znaur district, for illegal border crossing, reported the RSO MoD press-service. "On 27 February, native residents of Avnevi village were detained in the village of Tsnelis (the previous report referred to the village of Okona), Znaur district, for illegal border crossing.
RSO Foreign Minister Murat Djioev tells about the results of the 4th round of Geneva consultations on Security in the Caucasus.
What are the main results of the forth round of Geneva consultations?
On 17-18 Februar, new round of discussions was held in Geneva to follow the plan of French and Russian presidents. The discussions are meant to contribute to security in the Republic of South Ossetia and Republic of Abkhazia. Usually, the discussions are held in two working groups with South Ossetia"s representatives" participation.