Tbilisi Condemns Joint Session of South, North Ossetian Cabinets

The Georgian Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from Russia  over a joint session of the governments of the Russia’s North Ossetian Republic and breakaway South Ossetia, which was held in Tskhinvali on May 19. 
 
“If the fact of [the] participation [of officials from Russia’s North Ossetian Republic] is confirmed, this will be discussed as a violation of the principles of territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of the country, as well as an unfriendly step by Russia towards Georgia,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on May 19. 
   
The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported on May 19 that a joint session of the South and North Ossetian governments resulted in the signing of a joint program on social, economic and cultural cooperation.

Chairman of the North Ossetian government Aleksander Merkulov participated in this session, according to this report.
 
South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity, who also attended the session, stressed the significant progress achieved in integrating South and North Ossetia, following the first joint session of the two governments in Vladikavkaz in March.