Russia Denies Delivery of Military Freight to South Ossetia

In an information note issued on June 29 the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the humanitarian aid sent to breakaway South Ossetia by the Moscow Mayor?s Office did not include any military equipment, as claimed by the Georgian side.
 
The Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that Tbilisi was notified in advance regarding Moscow?s intention to send humanitarian aid to breakaway South Ossetia.
 
Recently Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Giorgi Khaindrava condemned sending of a humanitarian aid to breakaway South Ossetia by the Moscow Mayor?s Office, which as he put it, included mostly the military equipment: tents, field kitchens, uniforms and vehicles.
 
?The Moscow Mayor?s Office invited the representatives from the Georgian Embassy to Russia to attend the ceremony of sending the humanitarian aid, however the Embassy did not accept this invitation,? the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

?We would like to remind the Georgian side that an agreement over interaction in rehabilitation of economy in the Georgian-Ossetian zone and over return of internally displaced persons was signed between Georgia and Russia on December 23, 2000. This agreement is still in force. The page 3 of this document reads: ?the sides will support initiatives by the administrative-territorial bodies, enterprises and organizations of the Russian Federation and Georgia in their efforts to provide aid to the South Ossetian side to carry out rehabilitation works aiming at further development of economy,? the information note of the Russian Foreign Ministry says.

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