South Ossetia, has been following the events taking place in Syria. The confrontation in this country, the tension has caused great concern for the fate of people affected by the conflict. People of South Ossetia are feeling special anxiety for the Ossetians, living in Syria, who have become the hostages of the conflict.
About the steps of the leadership of South Ossetia, being taken in connection with the situation in Syria, has discussed to the correspondent of IA "Res" the RSO Presidential Envoy for post-conflict settlement, Murat Dzhioev:
- People of South Ossetia, who have repeatedly experienced the hardships of war, are anxiously watching the Syrian events, especially because a large number of our fellow citizens – Ossetians- are living in Syria, whose ancestors settled there in the XIX century. Over many generations they have been maintaining links with their historical homeland.
President of the Republic of South Ossetia has been constantly monitoring the situation in Syria; he has been keeping contacts with the leadership of North Ossetia and consultations on the support and assistance to the Syrian Ossetians, including the issue of their return to their historical homeland and their temporary or permanent residence. Consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia are also being held; its embassy in Damascus is solving the visa problems of the Ossetians who wish to return to Ossetia.
President of South Ossetia held a meeting on this issue, where was reviewed the concrete aid and were assigned proper instructions.
I would like to note that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Ossetia and South Ossetian branch of the "Supreme Council of the Ossetians" for several months have been maintaining constant ties with the Syrian Ossetians. The head of the Ossetian community in Syria has received an invitation to visit South Ossetia in the next few days and then we will discuss concrete steps and forms of aid.
A lot of ordinary citizens, community organizations, the Ossetian Diasporas applied to the authorities of South Ossetia. Having expressed their concern, they offered voluntary fundraising in support of the Syrian Ossetians, those who will return to the ancestral land of Ossetia, to adapt to the new location. It means that people have not remained indifferent. Especially as this is our common trouble.
