Kokoity Visits Moscow, Speaks of South Ossetia’s Policy

Visiting President of breakaway South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity said at a news conference in Moscow on June 1 that during his current visit in Russia he plans to discuss issues related with “South Ossetia’s integration [into the Russian Federation] and economic cooperation,” with officials there, the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported.

At a news conference in Moscow Kokoity spoke about South Ossetia’s relations with other secessionist regions – Abkhazia, Transdnestria and Nagorno-Karabakh – and predicted that South Ossetia may become an internationally recognized state in 2007.

“Western politicians are inclined to recognize [the independence] of South Ossetia, Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh,” Kokoity said, adding that after receiving international recognition South Ossetia will seek to join the Russian Federation’s North Ossetian Republic.

“But some international organizations are categorically against this [accession into Russia] and are mounting pressure on South Ossetia. These [international organizations] agree to consider the recognition[of South Ossetia’s independence], but not in the context of its membership into the Russian Federation,” Kokoity added.

The South Ossetian leader said that the resignation of Aleksander Dzasokhov, the President of the Russian Federation’s North Ossetia, will not have any influence on relations between South and North Ossetia. 

He said that a meeting between the secessionist leaders of South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transdnestria and Nagorno-Karabakh may be held within a month, but he did not specify the venue of this possible summit.

“This meeting is of vital importance for our Republics and it will definitely take place… We want to coordinate our policy and help each other in strengthening our states; or, as democrats say, to become free,” Kokoity said.

At the news conference Eduard Kokoity also commented regarding the recent clash between South Ossetian militias and Georgian police on May 29, which resulted in the death of four South Ossetian men and one Georgian policeman by calling this incident a provocation masterminded by the Georgian side.

Kokoity also spoke about the agreement between Russia and Georgia to close down Russian bases in Georgia in the course of 2008 and said that he will welcome this decision only if this withdrawal “fosters the positions of the two states [Russia and Georgia].”

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