OREANDA-NEWS. Vladimir Putin held talks with President of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov.

The President of South Ossetia was in Russia on a working visit.

* * *

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon. I am very happy to see you. This year, we are marking the fifth anniversary since the recognition of South Ossetia’s independence. In this time, we have developed certain mechanisms of cooperation. I am very happy that today, we will have the opportunity to discuss this in more detail, to look at what is being done in order for South Ossetia to develop progressively, at the necessary rate.

Unfortunately, I know there are still many problems in your nation. You have talked about this yourself; you also brought it up at our last meeting. But here today are Russian representatives that are working directly with colleagues in South Ossetia. I am confident we will have a very substantive meeting. I am very pleased to see you.

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH OSSETIA LEONID TIBILOV: Thank you, Mr Putin. I sincerely thank you for today’s meeting. South Ossetia is very interested in this meeting, hoping that it will help resolve many issues that concern our people, our Republic. I am grateful to all our friends and colleagues who have worked in South Ossetia over the last year and have done a great deal to develop the cooperation that is designated in our joint documents.

Indeed, we will mark the fifth anniversary of our independence this year. I think we will have good news to report to our people, because a great deal has been done over the last year. We understand that we could have and should have done more, but we maintain a positive outlook that will allow us to resolve many issues, and I believe that in August, we will report to our people about the results we achieved in our work.

Thank you very much for today’s opportunity to discuss these matters.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Thank you, I am very glad.