Ruling Party MPs Meet S.Ossetian Alternative Leader

Senior lawmakers from the ruling National Movement party praised South Ossetian alternative leader Dimitri Sanakoev for adhering to ?a right position? and said their meeting with him on May 3 was ?very positive.?

The meeting, which was held in Sanakoev?s office in the Georgian village of Kurta in the conflict zone, focused on discussion of Tbilisi?s initiative to set up a provisional administrative entity in South Ossetia.

Speaking at a news conference after the talks, Sanakoev said that the results of the alternative elections, which were held in the Tbilisi-controlled territories of South Ossetia last November, should be taken into consideration when setting up the provisional administrative unit.

?But we should also follow the position offered by the Georgian authorities and [Georgian] laws? We will achieve mutually acceptable results,? Sanakoev said.

MP Maia Nadiradze, leader of the parliamentary majority, said after the meeting that the law passed by the Georgian Parliament on the provisional administrative unit was very flexible and provided scope for maneuver.

She said that the Georgian authorities would not create any ?artificial problems? in the process of creating the administrative unit in South Ossetia.

Sanakoev noted that all the political forces in the region should be involved in the negotiating process. Sanakoev said that he was ready to meet with South Ossetian secessionist leader Eduard Kokoity as well.

Lawmakers from the ruling party had also proposed a meeting with Kokoity, but he declined. He has in fact condemned the Georgian MPs? meeting with Sanakoev as provocative and said that Tbilisi?s attempts to legalize Sanakoev?s administration were unacceptable.