JCC Session Held in Tskhinvali
A session of the quadripartite Joint Control Commission (JCC), involving the Georgian, South Ossetian, Russian and North Ossetian sides, was held in the capital of the self-styled South Ossetian Republic Tskhinvali on July 31, in a bid to defuse recent tensions in the region.
Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Okruashvili, who together with State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues Goga Khaindrava represented the Georgian side at the JCC session, said after the talks that the sides agreed to set up a joint checkpoint near Tskhinvali to avoid any repeat of the shootouts.
?The checkpoint between Tskhinvali and [the Georgian village of] Tamarasheni is currently occupied by the South Ossetian side. We agreed the Georgian and Russian peacekeepers will join them [the South Ossetian side] to jointly monitor situation,? Irakli Okruashvili told Imedi television.
The village of Tamarasheni, which is located on the outskirts of Tskhinvali, has become a flashpoint in recent days. The village came under intense fire from Tskhinvali on July 30, according to the Georgian side.
