Lavrov Comments on South Ossetia

During his visit to Georgia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference on February 18, that confidence building between the Georgian and South Ossetian sides should be a top priority at the first stage in the conflict resolution process.

?Today we discussed these issues, particularly in regard of President Saakashvili?s recent comprehensive proposal over resolution of the South Ossetian conflict. We know that the South Ossetian side has reacted on these proposals, as well as [South Ossetia side] has reacted on those proposals made by President Saakashvili last September regarding the three-step conflict resolution plan. We hope the process will move forward,? Sergey Lavrov said.

?We are sure that in both cases ? Abkhazia and South Ossetia, it is of vital importance, at the first stage, to strengthen mutual confidence between the [conflicting] sides. It was very useful process, in which late [Georgian] Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and [breakaway South Ossetian President Eduard] Kokoity participated. We have been told [during the talks in Tbilisi] that this format will continue. This is very important [process] in order to increase mutual confidence between the sides,? the Russian Foreign Minister added.