2 Feb 2018 18:19

Opening transit corridor through S. Ossetia under Russian-Georgian agreement requires talks with republic - Tskhinval

TSKHINVAL. Feb 2 (Interfax) - South Ossetia is not a party to the bilateral Russian-Georgian agreement on customs administration and trade monitoring and does not have any obligations under it, the republic's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"The possibility of practically implementing the provisions of this agreement, which affects the interests of South Ossetia in the sphere of the economy, security, and the environment, depends directly on the results of direct negotiations between the parties interested in the opening of a transport corridor with the official administration of the republic," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Friday.

In November 2011, Moscow and Tbilisi signed an agreement on the opening of additional transport corridors between Russia and Georgia.

The ministry said South Ossetia is not a party to this bilateral agreement and has no responsibilities under it that would allow the functioning of a transit corridor linking other countries. The Foreign Ministry said a legal framework needs to be formed for further cooperation on this project.