Kokoity Speaks of Unification with Russia

Following the talks with President of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic Teimuraz Mamsurov in Vladikavkaz on March 22, South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said that he will soon request the Russian side to recognize South Ossetia as part of the Russian Federation.
 
“The problem of unification of [North and South] Ossetia is, first of all, the problem of Ossetians, who currently live in South and North Ossetia… In the near future we intend to submit an appeal to the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, because there is a document, which confirms that South Ossetia was a part of Russia in 1774 and there is no document confirming South Ossetia’s secession from either Russian empire or the Russian Federation,” Eduard Kokoity said.
 
The statement was made on the sideline of a joint session of the governments of Russia’s North Ossetian Republic and breakaway South Ossetia, which according to the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee was launched on March 21 in Vladikavkaz. Both Eduard Kokoity and Teimuraz Mamsurov are attending the session.
 
Teimuraz Mamsurov told reporters following the talks with Kokoity that Vladikavkaz will facilitate the process to help increase living conditions of the South Ossetian population.