South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov has received in Tskhinval the Co-chairs of the Geneva discussions on security in Transcaucasia. Opening the meeting, the President noted that the main purpose of the discussions was still the signing of a legally binding agreement on non-use of force by Georgia against South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
He has also recalled the draft statement on the non-use of force discussed at the previous meeting in Geneva.
"I believe that the signing of such a statement would be another step to solve the problems facing the Geneva discussions tasks. I hope, this work will be continued in the future, then you will be able to develop more actively a document on the non-use of force. This will give a new impetus to the Geneva discussions,"- underlined Tibilov.
He has also noted that South Ossetia attaches great importance to this format.
He has called the discussions the international platform that makes it possible to implement the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreements.
Furthermore, the President noted that despite the efforts of the discussions to address the humanitarian issues, one could not see specific results in this area.
"We have heard the statements of the Georgian authorities on the new political trends in the country, but we do not see any real steps. In particular, with regard to the citizens of South Ossetia, kept in Georgian prisons on trumped-up charges ", - emphasized Tibilov.
He has also noted that the amnesty declared in Georgia has not applied to the citizens of South Ossetia, while many of them were detained on political grounds.
"Those who were sentenced to life imprisonment had been detained by the law enforcement bodies of Georgia on the grounds of national origin," - said the president.
He underlined that South Ossetia had not illusions regarding the new government of Georgia, which had repeatedly stated its intention to revoke the earlier adopted law "On the occupied territories."
"However, the law is still working in the territory of the neighboring state. It concerns the question of the so-called interim administration headed by Dmitry Sanakoev. I believe that the issues of our states should be discussed directly by their representatives,"- said Tibilov.
The president added, that the Georgian side had not responded to the fact that the international community of experts had recognized the term "occupied territories" with regard to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, unfounded.
"We see the difference of words and actions, and it has caused our concern," - he emphasized.
Referring to the statement on the opening of the Ergneti market, the President said that it was the internal matter of Georgia.
"They can open markets anywhere in their territory, without affecting the interests of South Ossetia," - said the head of state.
The President also said the co-chairs, that South Ossetia was confused by the report of the Swedish parliamentarian Tina Aketoft at the recent PACE session.
"When a person, who has never been to South Ossetia, is telling what is happening here, it is not correct. And the reaction to her speech is still negative. Using such approaches is the evidence of double standards that we have repeatedly stated. We do not deny that we have discussed her visit to the Republic. It was stated that she could enter our Republic only from the Russian territory. At the same time, we have agreed that after visiting South Ossetia Mrs. Aketoft will be able to go to Georgia. Such terms didn`t suit her, "- said Tibilov.
In turn, the EU co-chair Philippe Lefort expressed the hope that the Geneva discussions would contribute to the stabilization of the situation in South Ossetia, a return to normal life.
"Our discussions are focused on issues of security, and we have reached a consensus in the development of the document on the non- use of force. And I hope that all the issues, including the humanitarian ones, will be resolved, "- he said.
