By signing the Treaty of Alliance and integration, Russia and South Ossetia have taken another important step towards further strengthening the partnership between the two countries.
This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin after a meeting with President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov, during which the parties signed a Treaty of Alliance and Integration.
"Our talks with the President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov were traditionally held in an open, constructive atmosphere. We discussed practically all issues of strategic cooperation between our countries ", - said Vladimir Putin.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia passed almost seven years, has reminded the President of the Russian Federation.
"During this time we managed to lay a solid foundation for collaboration, we have built bilateral relations in almost all directions. We have established a good legal base, there were concluded more than 80 different agreements. Today we have taken another important step towards further strengthening our partner relations. The main outcome of the meeting is the signing of the Treaty of alliance and integration. This is, without exaggeration, a landmark document, reflecting the high level of the intergovernmental dialogue between Russia and South Ossetia, defining long-term objectives of bilateral relations ", - said Vladimir Putin.
The head of the Russian state has stressed that the Treaty has consolidated interaction in the field of social protection, including measures to increase pensions, salaries of employees of budgetary institutions in South Ossetia, create a modern system of compulsory insurance.
"Under the Treaty it will be simplified the procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship. Between our two countries will be established a common space of security and defense, integration of the customs authorities, free movement across the Russia-South-Ossetia border, will be set up the Joint Coordination Centre of the Interior Affairs. This structure is designed to make a major contribution to the fight against terrorism and organized crime in the region", - said Vladimir Putin.
He has stressed that the implementation of the agreement is supported by serious financial resources: in 2016, for South Ossetia will be allocated billion rubles.
"Overall, in the period from 2008 to 2014 the total amount of financial assistance to the country amounted to more than 43 billion rubles," - said the Russian president.
The priority areas of the joint work, according to Vladimir Putin remain the strengthening of the economy of South Ossetia, creating conditions for long-term sustainable growth.
"This is the aim of the investment program for socio-economic development in 2015-2017. More than 9 billion rubles will be allocated for implementation of 36 projects in areas such as housing construction, housing and communal services, culture and education, transport infrastructure, construction of a modern republican health center "- the president said.
During the talks, according to Vladimir Putin, the parties noted the need to improve the efficiency of the investment, return on investment.
"In this regard, we discussed how to improve the mechanisms of control over the targeted use of allocated funds, trade and economic relations ", - said the president.
Last year the bilateral trade increased by 18 percent.
"We will consolidate this positive trend, attracting Russian businessmen to the joint projects. We consider very promising cooperation in the field of agriculture. I am sure that now under sanctions pressure agricultural producers of South Ossetia will be able to expand their presence in the Russian market, "- said Vladimir Putin.
Russia plans to further contribute to the training of qualified personnel necessary for socio-economic development of South Ossetia.
"This year will be assigned places in the Russian universities for 80 South Ossetia students. We will contribute to the expansion of close contacts in the cultural sphere and dialogue in the region", - said the President of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Putin has concluded that the implementation of the signed Agreement on Alliance and integration will open a new page in our relations, and certainly will promote our contacts to achieve a higher level of quality," - said Vladimir Putin.
Under The Treaty of alliance and integration between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation will be established a common space of security and defense,, free crossing of the Russian-South Ossetia border, the integration of the customs authorities, through the cooperation of the Interior departments, simplification of procedures for acquiring Russian citizenship and social component, including the issues of pensions.
The document is the basis for the gradual establishment of closer cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia in socio- economic and humanitarian spheres, in matters of foreign policy, defense and security while maintaining the state sovereignty of South Ossetia.
